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.
