Summer, What took you so long?

 Every June I try to come up with something cheeky, not cheugy, to describe my summer beach reading list that I make for friends and friends of friends. I look for a creative way to explain why I make an eclectic list of books to pack in your beach bag. I came across this reflection about summer reading by Halie Lesavage of Harper’s Bazaar and damn, she nails it! She explains, “There's a common misconception that beach reads always involve sun, sand, and string-bikini-thin plots. Readers who start summer with a straw tote full of new books know the truth. Whether you're cracking one open at a private beach resort or a lounge chair at your local pool, the best beach reads are ones that feel like stepping into an absorbing, alternate reality for a few hundred pages. It can be a lighthearted distraction from daily life or a nail-biting thriller: Whatever the specifics, if you don't want to go back in the water until you've reached the last page, you have a quality beach read on your hands.” 

Halie Lesavage and I go way back so it’s only fitting that I include her quote in this blog post. Of course, by way back I mean that I have been following her on Instagram for six hours after reading her article The 23 Best Summer Beach Reads of 2023-No beach required. Okay maybe we aren’t meeting for a glass of sauvignon blanc anytime soon, but we both agree that summer is a perfect time to dive into a marvelous book and escape the reality of life. 

Pack that straw tote, my friends.The sun will be shining and adventure awaits. 

XO Cherylann

Beyond That, The Sea by Laura Spence-Ash

This is one of my favorite books of the year, but I must give credit to my book-seller friend extraordinaire Jen Sullivan who insisted I read it ASAP. She was right of course, the book is fabulous. Jen explains, “Every once in a while, a book comes along at just the right time, that tugs at my heart, in just the right way. Beyond That, The Sea by Laura Spence-Ash is that book this year. A quietly powerful coming of age story that explores the definition of family, love and impossible choices. This heartbreaking but heartwarming tale is written with grace and insight that it is certainly my top contender for book of the year.” Read this one my friends, Jen has exceptional book taste!

The Guest by Emma Cline

I am definitely not cool enough to be using the website Nylon as a resource for what’s hip, but I do love checking out the latest trends. Nylon describes Emma Cline’s latest book as, “An intoxicating, sun-drunk work that tells the story of a hand-to-God grifter, one whose head you’re both terrified of and want to bask in forever, until you wake up sunburnt to a crisp.” I couldn’t agree more with Nylon. I was obsessed with everything about this story set in the Hamptons, especially the lifestyle of the characters. Don’t forget to pack sunscreen in your bag with this sizzler.

The Personal Librarian By Marie Benedict/Victoria Christopher Bennett

My friend Carolyn McGarry is a voracious reader and always picks gems to read throughout the year. She shared, “I’m always a sucker for a rich historical novel, and this one, based on a true story, didn’t disappoint. Belle da Costa Greene becomes financier J.P. Morgan’s personal librarian while keeping her identity as a black woman a secret. She deftly navigates NY society and gains Morgan’s trust and admiration all while creating a significant collection of books for the library. Belle’s intellect and bravery were captivating and I also enjoyed learning more about the Pierpont Morgan library, which you are still able to visit in NYC.” 

Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano

Lori Codega is my friend and long-time colleague who is the most bookish friend I could ask for. Her knowledge of books for adults and children takes my breath away! Lori loved this book that is getting rave reviews and explains, “Hello Beautiful, an emotional, heart-wrenching family drama tells the multi-generational story of the Padavano family, parents Charlie and Rose and the four sisters, Julie, Sylvia, Emeline and Cecelia. William Waters, a broken young man who only feels comfortable on the basketball court, is enfolded into this loving, boisterous family. A modern day Little Women, this story is filled with generosity, healing and love.”

The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder by David Grann

I asked Jen Sullivan to give me the bookseller scoop on a trendy nonfiction book and she said The Wager is the #1 nonfiction book they are selling at our local Barrington Books. I couldn’t help but chuckle at this fact because just yesterday I dismissed my husband Todd for recommending I include The Wager on my summer list. My dismissive “uh-no” was because I love my husband, but honestly the books he reads usually feature a guy who gets shipwrecked with just a can of tuna who has to cut off his arm that is stuck so he can fight pirates in the Gulf of Aden. Just this once, he may be right because the reviews for The Wager are quite impressive. “Riveting…reads like a thriller, tackling a multilayered history-and imperialism-with gusto.”-Time. I will be sure to pack this shipwreck, survival, thriller of a narrative nonfiction book in my beach bag!

The Happy Place by Emily Henry

“The beach-read master hooks us up again”-People

A rom-com, second-chance romance, fake relationship and a friendship story? Count me in for this beach read.This summer sizzler appears on many summer reading lists including on my new BFF Halie Lesavage’s beach read list  for Harper’s Bazaar. My daughter Bella is reading this now and loves it! This is a perfect book for escaping reality unless you are lucky enough to already find yourself in the center of a rom-com.

Trust by Hernan Diaz

This well-written book is a NY Times Bestseller, One of the New York Times Top Ten Books of 2022, Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and Winner of the 2022 Booker Prize for Fiction. I wouldn't say this complex work of fiction is a light read, but if you have an affection for historical fiction novels that lure you into the past, this one is for you. I am half way done with this puzzle of a book that engages readers in the world of wealth during The Great Depression. Oprah says, "It's fun as hell to read!"

The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine

I am breaking my own rules by including this suspenseful thriller published in 2018 on my summer list! My criteria for the summer blog is only including books published within the last two years, no exception! Well I guess some rules are meant to be broken, so I am adding this one to the list. I read this addictive thriller in less than 24 hours during my February vacation in Florida. I was excited for the week off, but I was having trouble reading at the time after two recent losses of close friends. Distracted and jittery, my reading "numbers" were definitely low. This book snapped me right out of my reading funk and I couldn't get enough of this spellbinding thriller! If you want to escape reality, pack extra SPF for this sizzler!

Bad Summer People by Emma Rosenblum 

My daughter Petra picked The Last Thing He Told Me two years ago for the beach read list and I think she is going to love this book that many are calling "Best Book of 2023 so far" and "Best Book of Summer 2023!" Run to get this page turner that is being recommended by so many. Gossip, Fire Island, beach, hidden secrets, murder... Oh yeah this just might be the book that "makes you not want to go back in the water until you've reached the last page."

Let's do this, my friends. Let's make time to escape reality. Let's put down our phones(my bad, for sure) and read. Let's talk about books with friends, family, ha... maybe even with our loves. Find a spot for you and a book or in my case, many books.

Happy Summer!

Cherylann

On May 15th, I was scanning news articles and came across this headline in Newsweek: “Want to read more books? A company will pay $200 for every novel you finish.” Of course I want to read more books! This gig was a dream come true. Sign me up! Let’s get this bread! A company looking for a slew of “bibliophiles-at-large to devour popular reads?” I am in! 

Well as they say, “Don’t quit your day job, kid.”  I never did get the call to be a paid bookworm. I will have to just keep reading for pleasure and put my energy into creating these book lists for my friends and friends of friends. 

My list is simply a collection of suggested books to pack in your beach bag this summer. I choose books I have read this year or books I plan to read this summer. I consult some of my trusty book friends for suggestions and I browse my favorite book sites for ideas. I make a list on a yellow legal pad and I cross things off the list over and over. To make the cut, a book needs to have been published in the last two years, cannot be dystopian (screw dystopian novels, our world feels too dystopian these days) and can be fiction or nonfiction, but not political. Never political. 

I hope you can find a gem from this list to enjoy. Pack some sunscreen, your book of choice and go make the most of a summer day. Let’s commit to making these days count.

XO

Cherylann

One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle

This is my good friend Jen Sullivan's book pick. She is a book-seller extraordinaire at our local bookstore (Barrington Books) and always selects a fabulous pick for the summer list. Jen says, "I inhaled this book in a day. A beautiful book about the unending bond between mother and daughter. Although it explores life after loss and feelings of anxiety and confusion, it never sat too heavy with me. Rebecca Serle struck that perfect balance by setting the story in Italy. Aside from the stunning descriptions of the food, wine, salt and sea of picturesque Positano, it covered some big themes that had my emotions on a bit of a roller coaster from beginning to end. I really liked this one! Perfect summer read."

Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance by Alison Espach

This is the Barrington Bookstore Book Club book for June. The author is coming to the book store on June 30th. Want to read this book and meet the author? Check out the details @ Barrington Books (Book club picks are 20% off.) I am so excited for this event and I hope to see some friends in the crowd. 

Described as a "must-read," this book is an emotional, but very readable and hard to put down story about loss, grief and finding how to move on after tragedy strikes. 

I can't wait to read this book and I am so happy Jen Sullivan shared her excitement for this book and the author's event.

Counterfeit by Kirstin Chen

This is my great friend Reese Witherspoon's book pick for summer. Of course, by great friend I mean the celebrity star of Reese's book club that I faithfully follow on Instagram, but hey that makes us great friends, right?

Seriously I do love Reese's book picks. I am currently reading this addictive book that I can't wait to finish. Vogue describes this book as, "Propelling and captivating...a provocative story of fashion, friendship and fakes(in more ways than one)." Get your sunscreen ready for this sizzler and pack it in a designer bag (fake or real, no judgement here). 

True Biz by Sara Novic

Another book pic from my BFF Reese. Lots of book friends I know can't wait to read this gem. Reese summed it up eloquently for her Book Club members: "An eye-opening and heartfelt story about the human connection and the beauty and adversity woven into the deaf community and culture." 

Many say this book about the deaf community is the most anticipated book of 2022! Oh man...I cannot wait to devour this book.

The Paper Palace by Miranda Crowley Heller

My avid-reader friend Carolyn McGarry picked this gem for her summer reading list suggestion. Carolyn faithfully reads daily and has started logging all of her reads. She shared, "I love this book about the crossroads of a woman's life as she grapples with a farewell to childhood memories, the road not taken and the choice of two loves-past and present. Set in the family vacation home on the Cape, it is part love story, part family drama. The author does a wonderful job of making you feel the emotions of the characters as well as imagine the setting of the simply woodsy family home. I couldn't put this book down- my favorite in a long list of reads this year!"

Book Lovers by Emily Henry

Now this is a summer beach read! Written by the author of Beach Read and People We Meet on Vacation, this book is described as a "rom-com" you can't put down. I am a sucker for books and Hallmark movies that feature a successful city slicker who comes to a small town and finds love! Definitely a light read that takes you to an adorable town with love and books in the air. Do we need more in life???

The Lost Summers of Newport By Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig and Karen White

The New York Times describes this book as, "A novel of money and secrets set among the famous summer mansions of Newport, spanning over a century from the Gilded Age to the present day."

I am planning to read this engrossing book under an umbrella at Second Beach in Newport this summer. I love, love, love Newport and I am looking forward to this historical fiction book.

Nonfiction:

Fly Girl by Ann Hood

My dear friend Kate Lentz is director of Rhode Island Center for the Book and I always ask her for a book pick to add to the summer list. Kate says, "I hate to fly, but I loved this book. I'm a huge Ann Hood fan and this is her memoir of her experience as a flight attendant. This book is a delight!"

Kate and I agree on this book pick for sure. I loved this book and I found myself wishing I could fly somewhere amazing in first class with a glass of champagne and a hot towel to pamper me while I read a spectacular book. A girl can dream, right?

Vanderbilt: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty by Anderson Cooper

My bookish friend Jodi Helman-Multer enthusiastically gives me book picks for children, but this year she is contributing to the beach bag book list.

Jodi shares, "Take a trip back in time to one of our country's wealthiest and most fascinating families. From Cornelius' humble beginnings in the 17th century in Staten Island, through the glitter of the Gilded Age and the mansions on Fifth Avenue, all the way to the author's life as a son of a glamorous designer, Cooper takes you deep into the historical world of a great American family. From the estates of Newport to the iconic era of 'Capote's Women,' Vanderbilt is a page-turning walk through the dynasty that shaped America's commerce, society and fashion." 

Between Two Kingdoms: A Memoir of a Life Interrupted by Suleika Jaouad

Author Tara Westover says, "This book will resonate with anyone who is living a different life than they planned to live. This is a propulsive, soulful story of mourning and gratitude." 

I loved this candid memoir and now I faithfully follow Suleika and her journey on Instagram. She is married to the dynamic musician Jon Batiste. I cheer for her recovery and want her to win the medical battle. Go Suleika, You've got this!

Happy Reading! Happy Summer!

CB

 

Summer 2021

Well hello there! I have decided to revive my Summer "Beach Bag" Reading list for 2021. By revive I mean continue the annual tradition of creating a list of books I suggest for packing in your beach bag. Two weeks ago I made the decision to shelve my list for this year and officially retire from sharing summer book choices for adults. Apparently this decision was not supported by some of my friends who kindly insisted I get the list out, pronto. 

So the list is back and I am sharing it with friends and anyone else who happens upon my little list of recommended books. I have added books to the list that I have read this year or plan to read this summer. In keeping with tradition, I have consulted some of my trusted reading peeps for suggestions to make a list that will offer lots of choices. Full disclosure, I am just an avid reader who likes to pack dynamic books in my beach bag. I simply suggest  books to read to escape the seriousness of life. The books on my Summer Reading List may not change the world or make a lasting impact, but hopefully they encourage us to abandon our phones and lose ourselves in a good book. 

Happy Summer, everyone. 

Cherylann

Float Plan by Trish Doller

Talk about a summer read, this is the book I could literally not put down. Pack extra sunscreen for this sizzler! This book is described as an "unforgettable and romantic adult debut about setting sail, starting over, and finding yourself." My travel obsessed friend Darlene Amoroso devoured this one and I predict she has made a detailed log of all the islands in this book and will definitely make her way to an island or two while we are all shoveling snow! 

Haven Point by Virginia Hume

This is my good friend Jen Sullivan's book pick. She is a book-seller extraordinaire at our local bookstore (Barrington Books) and always selects a fabulous pick for the summer list. Jen says, "This is my favorite summer read. A compelling multi-generational family saga! A story of three strong women and their summers spent at their family home on the Rocky Coast of Maine." 

The Guest List by Lucy Foley

I loved playing Clue as a child and this books reminds me of the game. I think it was Mrs. Peacock in the library with the revolver!! This book is about the wedding of the year on an island off the coast of Ireland when someone turns up dead! You could take an old Agatha Christie book out of the library, play Clue or instead read this intriguing "whodunit" book. 

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig 

My good friend and work-wife Terrie Kovolyan is planning to kick off summer by reading this gem that has been named an Amazon Best Book of the Year. The New York Times describes this book as, "Absorbing...exactly what's wanted in these troubled and troubling times."  I am glad Terrie suggested this book because I forgot how much I enjoyed reading it over the winter. Then again, a quirky, little book that takes place in a life library...hmm I wonder why I liked it so much????

The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave

This book is described as the ultimate page-turner and is my daughter Petra's book pick (Of course, she doesn't know I am posting this, but the chance of her reading her mom's blog is pretty slim!) She packed this book in her bag for a ferry ride and I plan to read it the minute she is finished. Entertainment Weekly declares, "This is a mystery about a woman who thinks she found the love of her life-until he disappears." I was even hooked with the book trailer:  https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Last-Thing-He-Told-Me/Laura-Dave/9781501171345

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

This book was recommended by avid reader Carolyn McGarry. Whenever I see Carolyn in town we talk books and I am always impressed by her daily reading schedule. Yes, she reads everyday! Named a BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR by The New York Times, this stunning new novel is about twin sisters who ultimately choose to live in two different worlds, one black and one white. 

Carolyn is also a fan of historical fiction books. She shares, "I personally love all of the books by Beatriz Williams for light historical fiction and just finished The Glass Ocean, written with two other authors. Beatriz Williams is my go-to author when looking for a total escape, based in history with richly developed characters,  and juicy love stories."  

The House of Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

I never make a summer book list for adults without consulting book expert Kate Lentz(RI Center for the Book Director) for a pick or two. I usually give her barely any notice for when I need her picks, but she always come through. This year she has chosen The House of Cerulean Sea as one of her choices and says, "This is a sweet and contemporary fantasy... and once you're into it, you realize it's the book you didn't know you needed."

Kate has also picked Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley as one her summer book picks. Kate shared, " I just read this book in three days and loved it... YA crime thriller about a Native American teen who becomes an informant to uncover corruption in her community. This is a total page turner, loved the writing and learned a lot!"

The Invisible Husband of Frick Island by Colleen Oakley

Hmm...another book about an island in the summer...Lately I seem to be obsessed with island stories. Anyway, I read about this one on a fun book Instagram page and I can't wait to read this book that I think will be "fricking" good.  Oh yeah, I said it! Who doesn't want to pack a book in their bag that has been named a Southern Living best beach read??? I better pack some sweet tea in my cooler for reading this charming story!

Happy Reading, my friends! I hope you find a book to enjoy this summer. 

CB

Summer 2020

This has been quite a year! I thought I would read more during the pandemic, but honestly I was distracted and on digital devices too much. I am looking forward to reading many books this summer and I definitely will not be reading electronic books. Print books are all I am packing in my beach bag!
I have been sharing my summer reading choices with friends for many years. This is just a sampling of books I have read or plan to read this summer. The books on my list are usually not the books that change lives or focus on politics. I read memoirs, thrillers, historical fiction and beach reads. Sometimes I watch and read too much news and turn to books to escape. So no, you will not find any pandemic books on my reading list. You will also never find dystopian novels on my list either, although the year of 2020 feels like we are in a dystopian world!
Be well, read some books and find some happiness this summer. 
Cherylann

I just adored this book by Sally Rooney. It is a fabulous book for your beach bag. Many are calling this the best book of the year! You can follow-up with binge watching the series on Hulu or Netflix.

I always include a book on my summer list from my bookseller friend Jen Sullivan. Jen says, "This captivating historical fiction with a strong female central character...dives into 1950's, social classes, women's roles in India and the cultural debate between Western and traditional herbal medicine."

I might just be a little obsessed with the Kennedy family. This gem has everything I love including Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and the world of publishing. It's a perfect book for the beach. I wanted to change places with the main character and have Jackie as my book editor! Oh wait... I don't have a book to publish.

 I know we are not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but I never liked the cover of this book. I was hesitant to read it, but my book-loving colleague Lori Codega shared this with me during our time home this spring. I absolutely adored this book. My good friend Nancy Seadale loved it too! I could not put it down! Pack sunscreen when you read this book in the sunshine.

I just couldn't stop reading this well-written book during a cold weekend this winter. I read all the controversy surrounding the book and author, but I still wanted to read this book. I followed the buzz online, but honestly I enjoyed this book. If you want to escape Corona news and read some well-written fiction, get this book. 

“Transportative . . . Make sure you have tissues handy when you read Ann Napolitano’s Dear Edward, a sure-footed tearjerker.”—NPR 

I definitely cried ugly tears after I read this book about a boy who survives a plane crash. It warms your heart for sure. 

My friend Kate Lentz always contributes a pick or two for my summer reading list. Executive Director for the Rhode Island Center for the Book, Kate has chosen the Read Across Rhode Island Book for 2020 for her "pick.".  Kate says Rising is a fascinating book about the rising significance of rising sea levels, with scientific research woven into personal stories. It's written by local author Elizabeth Rush, who's brilliant and has gifted us with such lyrical prose while including the state's landscape in the narrative.

“This electrifying, gorgeously written memoir will hold you captive until the last word.” —People

I could not put this book down! I devoured this book in one day. It reads like a sizzling fictional novel, but this is a memoir and that makes it a fascinating read. This was definitely a favorite of mine this year! Hmm... having two daughters myself I wonder if they would keep a secret of mine from their father. I think my youngest daughter might rat me out for sure!

This book was recommended to me and I have just started it as my first book of the summer. I am only 59 pages in, but I am finding it to be a perfect way to start the summer reading season! According to The Reading Ladies,  "Poignant themes in this story include friendship, racism, prejudice, second chances, healing, finding your voice, safe places and people, mental health, taking risks, and making peace with the past."

“Park Avenue Summer is a frothy and fun cocktail of fact and fiction, perfect for anyone who has ever been a “Cosmo Girl.”’—Augusta Chronicle
I just love that this book is described as frothy! What a great word to describe a book about Cosmopolitan in the 1960's I love the reviews written about this book and I can't wait to bring this baby to the beach. 

"Part memoir, part investigative journalism, and completely engrossing, What We Inherit is not a book you'll be forgetting anytime soon." ―Oprah Magazine
Ooh... attic secrets, the CIA, old newspaper clippings, count me in! I am looking forward to reading this mysterious book that some say reads like a spy novel.







Happy Summer Reading, my friends!
Join me in taking time for putting down our screens and reading some good books.
XO
Cherylann

Summer Reads...

I think Susan Davis of NPR explains it best, “I’m looking for summer reads, something to put in my bag next to my SPF 100.  My favorite kind of summer read is just the frothy page-turner, the one book that everyone’s reading that HBO or Netflix is going to turn into a movie or TV show sometime next year.” -Weekend Edition NPR What to Read this Summer

There are definitely some “frothy page-turners” on my list this year. I included suggestions from some of my trusty “bookies,” not to be confused with gamblers, but instead fellow readers that I trust with book suggestions. I also consulted my favorite book reviews online, checked a few book Instagram pages I follow and started an old school list on a yellow legal pad. I took delight at watching how many times I crossed suggestions out and rewrote the names of titles. You just can’t get that satisfaction from clicking the delete button.

Every year I like to think I make a list that is eclectic and appeals to a variety of readers. I usually add one or two nonfiction titles and sometimes I add a book or two that might have a long lasting impact on readers. Ultimately however, my picks really are just summer reads to pack in your beach bag, those frothy page-turners you will have trouble putting down.

Happy Summer. Take some time for you and a good book to be together.

XO

Cherylann

Pieces of Her by Andy Oliver

In the NPR interview of What to Read this Summer, Barrie Hardymon tells host Susan Davis that if she is looking for a book like Gone Girl to read this summer, she has to read the propulsive book Pieces of Her. This book is described as a roller-coaster ride and a great mother-daughter story. This thriller is being turned into a mini-series by Netflix. I can’t wait for it to come out.

What the Eyes Don’t See by Mona-Hannah-Attisha

Here’s what book expert Kate Lentz (Director of RI Center of the Book) has to say about this amazing book:  

“The 2019 Reading Across Rhode Island book about uncovering elevated levels in Flint’s drinking water is not a dry science book, it’s at its heart a family memoir and medical thriller about environmental racism, corporate greed and governmental cover-up. It made me furious, but also inspired me. It’s required reading for all BHS students this summer, so pick it up and read along!”

The Kitchen Yarns: Notes on Life, Love and Food by Ann Hood

More from Kate Lentz:

“CB and I love Ann Hood and I think part of it’s because she brings you right into her stories with a kind of honesty that makes you feel like you’re one of her best friends...that and her love of American cheese. In Kitchen Yarns, Hood connects food and the memories that shaped her in a series of 27 essays about family, love, loss and joy...and there are recipes! Her ramen recipe with poached egg, butter and American cheese with a side of Chardonnay has become my go to comfort food.”

Sometimes I Lie by Alice Feeney

Now this book is a page-turner that you should definitely apply lots of sunscreen for if reading at the beach or poolside. It’s hard to put this one down! It begins with: My name is Amber Reynolds. There are three things you should know about me: 1. I’m in a coma. 2. My husband doesn’t love me anymore. 3. Sometimes I lie. I was so intrigued by this book.

The Guest Book by Sarah Blake

If you follow Barrington Books on Instagram, you will know this is my friend Jen Sullivan’s staff pick. Jen says, “It’s my kind of book because it is a three generation saga with privilege, prejudice, family secrets, love, and loss. On top of it all, it’s beautifully written!” Make Jen happy and read this dynamic book!

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

This thriller is my friend Christine Griffin’s book pick. She is planning to pack this book in her beach bag this summer. Christine says, “Everyone I know cannot put this book down!” A #1 New York Times Bestseller, this book is a favorite on many recommended book lists.

The Honey Bus: A Memoir of Loss, Courage and a Girl Saved by Bees by Meredith May

Christine and I are both interested in keeping bees someday and Christine is currently reading this gem. I just ordered it and can’t wait to read this book that is described by Kirkus Reviews as, “a moving memoir… a fascinating and hopeful book of family, bees, and how even when children are overwhelmed with despair, nature has special ways to keep them safe.”

Improvement by Joan Silber

My friend Nancy Seadale has always been an avid reader, but since retiring, she is a voracious reader! Nancy says Improvement is “different, thought provoking and very well-written.” This book has won numerous awards and The National Book review calls it “kaleidoscopic as it spans decades and stretches from New York to Berlin and Turkey.”

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

This book has been a popular book on many recommended lists and is currently #1 on the Amazon charts! I loved reading this book and sometimes felt as if I were in the marsh with “the marsh girl.”  Although when reading this book I didn’t consider it a “quick read,” it is beautifully written and spell-binding at times. Pour some iced-tea when you read this story of hope, loneliness, determination and strength.