Summer Book Recommendations
Hi everyone! This is
Krista’s friend, Ashby, coming to you after a long hiatus to bring you an
overdue book review. I have been reading nonstop this year to try and hit my Goodreads
2021 Reading Challenge. You can find me with my kindle or a book in my hand just about anywhere (preferably the beach but beggars can't be choosers). I just need to figure out how to read
while Citi Biking and then I’ll be all set (JK JK). I am a little over halfway through
the challenge and thought it would be fun to list out my favorite books of the
summer so far! If you have any great recommendations, feel free to comment them
here or DM me @ashbycoen!
By Taylor Jenkins Reid
This is arguably one of the most
talked about and anticipated books of the year and I can’t say that it
disappoints. Taylor Jenkins Reid is the author of crowd favorites and definite
must-reads The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones and the Six so this
had big shoes to fill. Malibu Rising is set in California in the 1980s with
flashbacks to the 1950s. Centered around four siblings, all with a passion for
surfing and their family ties, the book dives into their mother’s history and
cumulates at a party where all of their secrets are exposed. Their father is
Mick Riva, from (you guessed it!), The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo but don’t
get too excited because he has shockingly little to do with the plot. Although
not her best book to date, the way the story is written is so fun and makes it a
very easy, worthwhile read!
By Susan Meissner
This is one of the best books that
I have read in a long time! It is a historical fiction book based around the
earthquake that hit San Francisco in 1906. The story centers around Sophie
Whalen, an Irish immigrant living in NYC who answers an ad to be a mail-order
bride for a mysterious man in San Francisco. He turns out to be very handsome
but extremely aloof and cold (hate when that happens). He does have an adorable daughter, who Sophie immediately
comes to care for. Just as she is settling into her new home, another woman
shows up on her doorstep with information about Sophie’s new husband. Right as
things are escalating, the earthquake hits, sending the character’s lives spinning in
different directions. I really fell in love with these characters and enjoyed reading
a book led by such strong female heroines!
By Katherine St. John
A psychological thriller set on a
mega-yacht in the Mediterranean = my kinda book! Belle is invited by her best
friend, Summer’s, billionaire boyfriend to spend a week on his yacht sailing
the Mediterranean. Of course, nothing goes as planned and the guests start to
feel more like prisoners when their host starts to become extremely strict and
demanding. Summer is busy playing the hostest with the mostest and isn’t exactly
helping the situation. There is clearly history with Belle and Summer that isn’t
revealed until the end. I did think that Belle was a tad ungrateful considering
she was on an all-expense paid vacation but of course her suspicion ended up
being correct. There was a twist that I didn’t see coming too, which always pleases
me.
By Emily Henry
This is just a light, snackable,
fun beach read! Alex and Poppy are complete opposites but best friends (very When Harry Met Sally vibes). Every
summer for 10 years, they go on a vacation together to somewhere new. The story
opens with Poppy stuck in a rut professionally and personally. Something has
happened between her and Alex 2 years ago and they haven’t spoken since. In
order to shake things up and see where her true feelings lie, she convinces
Alex to go on another summer trip with her. Obviously, this isn’t the most
unpredictable book in the world but Poppy was an interesting character and you
do root for them to get together (no spoilers though duhh)!
By Laura Dave
This was featured as Reese's Book Club pick for May so it immediately went to the top of my list. Hannah's husband Owen disappears one day and leaves behind a note that simply says "Protect Her". Bailey knows he was referring to his 16 year old daughter, Bailey, who she doesn't exactly have a great relationship with since marrying Owen. The gist of the book is trying to get to the bottom of where Owen went and why he fled. I would say that this is mildly suspenseful rather than a full blown thriller but it really does suck you in. The second half of this book is really a rollercoaster so buckle up!
