Great Summer Reads, Fiction Edition

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I have enjoyed reading for as long as I can remember - reading on the school bus, at home next to our wood stove, under the covers at bedtime (yes, I was the kid with the flashlight under the covers!), and in between classes in high school.

As an adult I've had to be more intentional about reading, fitting it in between raising children and helping to run a family business.

My favorite time to read is when I'm on a plane, or I'm on vacation. I have compiled a list of some of my favorite reads for you to try this summer!

The Eye of the Needle by Ken Follett - This is a spy novel set in WWII, well written, and keeps you guessing the outcome until the very end.

A gripping historical thriller set during World War II. Filled with suspense and espionage, it follows a ruthless German spy as he attempts to deliver crucial information to the enemy.

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus - I didn't know I could enjoy chemistry so much!  This book is about the importance of equality as much as chemistry.

The story of Elizabeth Zott, a brilliant scientist who has the misfortune of being a woman in 1950s America. After a frustrating failed academic career, Zott finds success in an unlikely place: as the host of a television cooking show.

None of This is True, by Lisa Jewell - Fair warning, this will mess with your head.

Alix is a well-known true crime podcaster who meets a woman with her same birthday who has an interesting story to tell and who claims she's on the verge of making great changes in her life.

Josie seems unremarkable, but as Alix digs into her past, it soon becomes clear that her life is stranger and darker than her appearance would suggest.

The Midnight Library, by Matt Haig - What if you could go back and make different decisions in past situations?  This book is very thought provoking concerning the life choices we make.

This book is about Nora, a thirty-something woman who is regretful about her life and feels alienated and unneeded in this world. In the depths of her wallowing, she comes across the Midnight Library. In it, each book represents a portal into another variation of what her life could have been. As she reads the volumes, they allow her to access different versions of her life -- relation-ships she could have stuck with, careers she could have pursued and so on.

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek, by Kim Michele Richardson - This book is historical fiction, so some things are true, which makes it even more incredible.

Inspired by the true blue-skinned people of Kentucky and the brave and dedicated Kentucky Pack Horse library service of the 1930s, It is a story of raw courage, fierce strength, and one woman's belief that books can carry us anywhere―even back home.

The Silent Patient, by Alex Michaelides - Just when you think you have this plot figured out, guess again.

The story focuses on a specific patient, Alicia Berenson, who, after murdering her husband, goes silent and doesn't speak a word. We follow her psychotherapist, Theo Faber, as he tries to figure out what keeps Alicia from talking and ends up uncovering a lot more.

A Man Called Ove, by Fredrik Backman - Ove is a grumpy neighbor that everyone comes to love.

This is a heartwarming story about an isolated and grumpy old man who finds unexpected friendship and purpose in the most unlikely of places. It's a touching tale of love, loss, and the power of human connection.

Scarlet Feather, by Maeve Binchy - a very light, easy read about a couple of people who run a catering business.  

Set in contemporary Ireland, filled with warmth, wit, and drama, Scarlet Feather is the story of Cathy Scarlet and Tom Feather, their spouses, families, and friends, and the struggling new catering business that transforms their lives in ways big and small.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, by Taylor Jenkins Reid.  This book makes you think about how living our lives according to other's opinions shouldn't matter.

Hugo comes from a poor background, but marries the first of her many husbands in order to move to Hollywood and pursue her career. The novel spans over the entirety of Hugo's life, and revolves around the circumstances surrounding each of her marriages.

Bridget Jones's Diary, by Helen Fielding - If you thought the movie was funny, wait until you read this!

This book is written in the form of a personal diary, and the novel chronicles a year in the life of Bridget Jones, a thirty-something single working woman living in London. She writes about her career, self-image, vices, family, friends, and romantic relationships.

Please share your favorite summer books.  I'm always looking for interesting reads!

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