It might be just us, but the rising spring temperatures are making us crave a great weekend at the beach with a bag full of great summer reads. Here are some of our favorite picks for great books that cover the spectrum from humorous to romantic to enlightening. Warning: you might not want to end your trip once you start one of these.
Hillbilly Elegy– This powerful memoir chronicles the life of J.D. Vance, a Yale Law School graduate who escaped the fate of other disenfranchised members of the Rust Belt Community. With the odds against him, Vance climbs through the ranks, from joining the Marine Corps to attending Ohio State and then goes on to Yale, despite a dubious-seeming future. Vance expertly analyzes the plight of working class “hillbillies.” This book tugs at your heartstrings and is a must-read for anyone who wants to educate themselves on what’s going on in our country currently.
The Futures– A romantic drama, this novel centers around a freshly graduated college sweethearts Evan and Julia, who are trying to figure out their lives together in New York City. Evan gets hired at a hotshot financial firm and gets involved in a risky deal while Julia lingers, feeling forgotten and wondering what her purpose really is. The fast-paced read will keep you occupied all day.
All the Missing Girls–You will whip through this suspenseful thriller that explores the dark side of seemingly normal people. Readers meet Nic when she heads to her small hometown in order to get her childhood home ready for sale and to check in on her ailing dad. Nic’s new life outside of this Podunk town seems great, but as we get to know more about her past, we realize Nic has deeper ties to this community then we originally knew, including the fact that her best friend disappeared while the girls were both in high school. With another girl gone, Nic stays in town to discover her connection to both.
The Underground Railroad– Fresh from its Pulitzer Prize win, this bestseller from Colson Whitehead has been getting tons of attention for its fresh take on historical fiction. Whitehead reimagines what life on the real Underground Railroad might be like, and portraying the true inhumanity that slaves experienced. Readers follow the protagonist Cora, a young slave who decides to take the trek on The Underground Railroad to find freedom. Readers will be kept on their toes following the twists and turns taken.
All is Not Forgotten– A dark, psychological thriller, this read will keep you in suspense until the very end. Written by Wendy Walker, this book tells the story of a young woman who has just been raped through the eyes of her psychiatrist, an expert in memory recovery. Why would she need to remember? The night of the rape, her parents had her take a pill so she could forget her rape as a way to protect her. Reese Witherspoon put it in her book club, along with Big Little Lies and Luckiest Girl Alive, so you know this one is going to be good.
Swans of Fifth Avenue– This piece of historical fiction takes a vibrant peek at what life in New York City was line in the 1960’s. Author Truman Capote only surrounds himself with the best of the best, whether it’s a beautiful vacation home or his gaggle of gal pals. However, Capote’s relationship with socialite Babe Paley has its own special place, and the book mostly chronicles a hypothetical of the rise and fall of their friendship. Get ready for lots of name-dropping (Frank Sinatra! Marilyn Monroe!) in this fun novel exploring what life might have been like if you were in NYC’s most elite social circle during this time.
Don’t You Cry– Imagine one day you wake up, and your roommate (and one of your friends) is gone without a trace. That’s what happens to Quinn one Sunday morning, and all that’s left of her roommate Esther. However, a strange new woman has appeared in the small town of a Midwestern teenage boy named Alex. These two opposing narratives twist around each other until the truth comes to light. You’ll want to keep reading as long as you can.
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