It's Almost Summer! Display
Summer reading is my favorite kind of reading: I love all the annual lists, I love the buzzy new releases from big name authors, I love a great beach read. But sometimes, waiting for those holds is HARD when the weather is beautiful and you're heading to the shore. That's why I also love a look-back to previous summers' reading lists. There's usually little to no wait for these titles, and they're still packed with all the same kind of reading vibes. Check out some of 2024 and 2023's summer reading hits:
Catherine Newman's major hit novel "Sandwich" came out last year, and it was hard to get it into readers' hands then. Now, the demand has decreased, so the wait is much shorter, but the book is just as good this year as it was last! "For the past two decades, Rocky has looked forward to her family's yearly escape to Cape Cod. Their humble beach-town rental has been the site of sweet memories, sunny days, great meals, and messes of all kinds: emotional, marital, and--thanks to the cottage's ancient plumbing--septic too. This year's vacation, with Rocky sandwiched between her half-grown kids and fully aging parents, promises to be just as delightful as summers past--except, perhaps, for Rocky's hormonal bouts of rage and melancholy. (Hello, menopause!) Her body is changing--her life is, too. And then a chain of events sends Rocky into the past, reliving both the tenderness and sorrow of a handful of long-ago summers. It's one precious week: everything is in balance; everything is in flux. And when Rocky comes face to face with her family's history and future, she is forced to accept that she can no longer hide her secrets from the people she loves." This is a moving, hilarious story of a family summer vacation full of secrets, lunch, and learning to let go. As someone who has summered at the exact same Maine beach cottage for 40+ years with her family AND who is smack dab in the middle of that sandwich generation, I loved this one!
Hit author Kevin Kwan released "Lies and Weddings" last summer, and it flew off the library shelves. "Rufus Leung Gresham, future Earl of Greshambury and son of a former Hong Kong supermodel has a problem: the legendary Gresham Trust has been depleted by decades of profligate spending, and behind all the magazine covers and Instagram stories, manors and yachts, lies nothing more than a gargantuan mountain of debt. The only solution, put forth by Rufus's scheming mother, is for Rufus to attend his sister's wedding at a luxury eco-resort, a veritable who's-who of sultans, barons, and oligarchs, and seduce a woman with money. Should he marry Solène de Courcy, a French hotel heiress with honey blond tresses and a royal bloodline? Should he pursue Martha Dung, the tattooed venture capital genius who passes out billions like lollipops? Or should he follow his heart, betray his family, squander his legacy, and finally confess his love to the literal girl next door, the humble daughter of a doctor, Eden Tong? When a volcanic eruption burns through the nuptials and a hot mic exposes a secret tryst, the Gresham family plans--and their reputation--go up in flames. Can the once-great dukedom rise from the ashes? Or will a secret tragedy, hidden for two decades, reveal a shocking twist? In a globetrotting tale that takes us from the black sand beaches of Hawaii to the skies of Marrakech, from the glitzy bachelor pads of Los Angeles to the inner sanctums of England's oldest family estates, Kevin Kwan unfurls a juicy, hilarious, sophisticated and thrillingly plotted story of love, money, murder, sex, and the lies we tell about them all."
I loved "The Truth According to Ember" by Danica Nava. Nava is a Native American romance author, and this rom com features both a Native American male and female lead. "Ember Lee Cardinal has not always been a liar, not for anything that counted. But when her résumé is rejected thirty-seven times, she takes matters into her own hands. She gets creative listing her work experience and answers the ethnicity question on all job applications with a lie. No one wanted Native American Ember, but Caucasian Ember landed her dream accounting job on Park Avenue (Oklahoma). Accountant Ember thrives in corporate life--and her love life seems to be looking up, too: She starts to secretly date the IT guy and fellow Native, Danuwoa. But when they're caught in a compromising position on a work trip, a scheming mid-level executive threatens to expose them unless Ember manipulates the company's accounting books for him. Unwilling to allow Danuwoa to get fired and lose the financial support he needs for his sister, Ember agrees. As the blackmail continues to grow, so do Ember's lies. She must make the hard decision to either stay silent or finally tell the truth, which could cost her everything." This author has another title releasing this summer, and I can't wait to read it!
The subtitle of "Can't Spell Treason Without Tea" by Rebecca Thorne is "a cozy fantasy steeped with love," and that's pretty much a perfect description of this book. "All Reyna and Kianthe want is to open a bookshop that serves tea. Worn wooden floors, plants on every table, firelight drifting between the rafters... all complemented by love and good company. Thing is, Reyna works as one of the Queen's private guards, and Kianthe is the most powerful mage in existence. Leaving their lives isn't so easy. But after an assassin takes Reyna hostage, she decides she's thoroughly done risking her life for a self-centered queen. Meanwhile, Kianthe has been waiting for a chance to flee responsibly -- all the better that her girlfriend is on board. Together, they settle in Tawney, a town nestled in the icy tundra near dragon country, and open the shop of their dreams. What follows is a cozy tale of mishaps, mysteries, and a murderous queen throwing the realm's biggest temper tantrum. In a story brimming with hurt/comfort and quiet fireside conversations, these two women will discover just what they mean to each other... and the world." This is the first book in a series, so you can enjoy it and then immerse yourself further into Reyna and Kianthe's world.
You'll find these and lots of other titles in our "It's Almost Summer" display. For additional title suggestions, see the lists below:
