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I’ve never really subscribed to the notion of certain books being “beach reads”. My summer reading list has always run the gamut. From classics assigned for school to tense thrillers, I’ve never felt the need to limit my warm weather reads to a certain genre. However, I will concede that, just as some books are better on a dark and stormy night, some are meant to be enjoyed with the sun beating down on you and a cool drink in your hand. Check out my recommendations below to toss in your beach bag or place next to your deck chair.
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If you are still talking about how much you loved Gone Girl, try The Woman in the Window: A Novel
by A.J. Finn
Gone Girl has inspired a lot of copycats since its publication in 2012. While many have tried to replicate its mystery and twists, few have been able to capture the magic. Until now. The Woman in the Window tells the story of Anna Fox, a solitary recluse who is unable to leave her New York City home. She spends her days day drinking and spying on the neighbors. While indulging in her inner voyeur, she sees something shocking. Or at least that’s what she thinks. With plenty of tension and surprises, The Woman in the Window is a great option for someone who wants to dig their teeth into a great thriller, or anyone who has seen Rear Window a few too many times.
If comedic mysteries are more your speed, try Where’d You Go, Bernadette: A Novel
by Maria Semple
Bernadette Fox has disappeared. After being ambushed with an intervention at the hands of her husband and law enforcement officers, she vanishes without a trace. Her 15-year-old daughter, Bee, begins to explore Bernadette’s history, hoping to discover how her mother went from a a MacArthur Genius Grant recipient to a shut-in who accidentally (or possibly intentionally) destroyed the neighbor’s living room. Bernadette’s story will appeal to anyone who has taken a step back from their life and asked, “How did I get here?” Try to read it before the adaptation staring Cate Blanchette arrives in August. (I am sure it will be great, but I always recommend reading the book before seeing the movie).
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If you like true stories that seem stranger than fiction, try Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup
John Carreyrou
If you are like me, you may have missed a lot of the Theranos story when it first broke a few years ago. It wasn’t until watching The Inventor on HBO that I really started to understand exactly how insane the entire situation was. After dropping out of Stanford University, Elizabeth Holmes founded Theranos, claiming to have proprietary technology that would revolutionize blood testing as we know it. However once John Carreyrou reported on the company’s fraudulent claims in the Wall Street Journal, the company began to crumble. Carreyrou eventually expanded his exploration of Theranos into the book Bad Blood. While at times it may seem like heavier reading than you would normally associate with a day at the beach, this book will keep you enthralled like the best sort of suspense novel, and will definitely give you something to talk about at your next barbecue.
If you love a self-deprecating hero who will make you laugh out loud, try One Last Thing Before I Go: A Novel
Jonathan Tropper
I love stories that take sadness and make it hilarious, and few things are sadder than the life of aging rocker Drew Silver. His daughter hates him, his career is dead, and oh yeah, he just discovered he is dying. While surgery will save him from his increasingly unpredictable symptoms, he decides against it, believing he has nothing left to live for. I know, you are reading this review thinking “How in the hell can this story be anything other than miserable?” But Silver’s decision to allow his disease to run its course leads to some serious self-reflection, and a lot of darkly humorous inner monologues. One Last Thing Before I Go tackles the topics of failure and forgiveness with so much charm and wit you can’t help but laugh. Read it away from strangers, because it would be awkward to explain that you are laughing at a story about a man choosing to die. Trust me.
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If you are looking forward to season two of Big Little Lies, try Nine Perfect Strangers
Liane Moriarty
I loved Big Little Lies, both the book and the excellent HBO adaptation. With season 2 about to drop (with the excellent addition of Meryl Streep), it seems like the perfect time to pick up another book by Liane Moriarty. In Nine Perfect Strangers, Masha Dmitrichenko invites a group of strangers on a “wellness journey” at Tranquillum House. Promising a digital detox, mediation and yoga classes, residents arrive for a life changing experience. The trouble starts when the residents start to wonder if Masha really has all the answers they are looking for. This book is great for anyone who is tempted to spend the summer knee deep in self-improvement books on the quest for perfection in a digital age. Trust me, this book will be more fun. And yes, this one is also going to be a TV show, also starring Nicole Kidman. I am already prepared to binge.
What books are on your summer reading list? Share in the comments!
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