Ten Books for Summer Reading (five I'm looking forward to, and five I would recommend)

As I mentioned in my library haul post, I'm starting to plan for some summer reads. Since the unofficial start of the season is this weekend (!) I figured I'd throw my hat in the ring with the plethora of summer reading lists out there. For me, I like seeing novels recommended more than once before giving them a green light. There are quite a few new books I'm looking forward to, and in no particular order, here are five I would love to read this summer! (You can click on the cover image to shop the Amazon affiliate link.)

Books I'm looking forward to:

Truly, Madly, Guilty by Liane Moriarty

It's no secret that I'm a big fan of Liane Moriarty. I've reviewed The Husband's Secret and Big Little Lies here and loved them, as well as What Alice Forgot, which I read prior to reviewing books. All are all fun, usually satirical, fast paced reads revolving around women with a major dilemma on their hands, giving the stories some emotional heft. This title seems meet those expectations!

Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum

It wouldn't be summer without a good YA story! This one is about the upheaval of a young girl who has to move to Los Angeles from Chicago to live with her stepmother and stepbrother when her father remarries. She get an anonymous email from someone offering to help her navigate her new intimidating prep school and mystery ensues. It sounds reminiscent of Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda, which I loved.


The Assistants by Camille Perri

This novel, set in New York, is about an executive assistant who finds a glitch in the expense reports of her media mogul boss that could pay off her student loans: hi jinks ensues. I spent time in my 20s as a HR assistant around high powered executives and have some good friends that were executive assistants. It sounds sort of ridiculous and fun 'stick it to the man' kind of stuff, perfect for a quick summer read.

First Comes Love by Emily Giffin

This is one NetGalley I DID request and plan to read soon! I haven't read Giffin's novels in SO LONG. I enjoyed the Something Borrowed books back in the day, when I too was a singleton. This new story, about two sisters in their late thirties, should be fun - reading Giffin's take on my contemporaries again.

Before the Fall by Noah Hawley

Thrillers are usually not my bag, BUT ensemble casts are! The description of this story in the aftermath of a plane crash called to me: "With chapters weaving between the aftermath of the crash and the back stories of the passengers and crew members-including a Wall Street titan and his wife, a Texan-born party boy just in from London, a young woman questioning her path in life, and a career pilot-the mystery surrounding the tragedy heightens."

Since I can't speak for the quality of the aforementioned books, I have some favorites that I can definitively say would make for EXCELLENT summer fare. (If you are the type of person who is looking for something on the longer side/500+ pages for an extended vacation, I am jealous! And also, I'd check out these epic novels.) Again, Amazon affiliate links are in the image and I'll link my original reviews within the description!

Books I would recommend:

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

I've been recommending this book for over four years now and I'm going to recommend it again! If you think this futuristic sci-fi tale is not for you, you might be wrong. It is delightful. And I take back my previous negative comments about a potential film now that Speilberg is on board as well as Simon Pegg, who I would watch read the phone book.

The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan

If you didn't get on this train last summer, get on it now. This fictional take on Will and Kate's romance is SO MUCH FUN. Also, if you're a KCLS member, I've seen many copies on the paperback picks shelves with a BONUS CHAPTER. I might have to pick it up just to read that one chapter...

The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney

I know I just read this, but it is THE BOOK of the summer, perhaps the year. A hilarious, satirical and witty story of an ensemble cast, full of fantastic characters and heart.

Where'd You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple

An oldie but a goodie, this story is reminiscent of a Liane Moriarty novel: a little bit chick lit with some heft about a woman dealing with an overzealous PTA, an AWOL husband and living in a new city (Seattle!). Even the sunglasses clad cover is perfect for summer.

Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter

This is another one from a few years back, a great warm weather cover, and also set to become a film. It's a sweeping, cinematic love story that bounces between present day and the early 60s on the set of Cleopatra with Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. 

Happy reading! I'm certainly looking forward to this spot with my books...