Summer Beach Reads
by Gus Jones, Fiction Department, Central Library
Summer is officially here and the melting interior of my car is proof. People walk by with plaintive looks on their faces that cry, “Why is it so hot!” My empathetic face responds with, “It’s time for a trip to the beach.” The crystal clear water, sugar white sand, and cool Gulf breeze are the cure for everything that ails you. So go home and grab your swimsuit, the sunscreen, the beach towels, the cooler, and your chair, but you can’t leave until you pack something great to read on the beach. There are a number of lists of best beach reads for summer 2018. Here are a few titles that appear on several lists along with links to the lists themselves. Have a great summer.
Clock Dance by Anne Tyler
In this new novel from Anne Tyler, central character Willa Drake’s life takes an unexpected turn. After playing many roles defined by the choices of others, she agrees to take care of her son’s injured ex-girlfriend and, in the process, becomes part of a new community and begins to re-write her future. (Southern Living)
The Female Persuasion by Meg Wolitzer
Welcome to the novel of the #MeToo moment—and my favorite book of the summer. Greer Kadetsky falls under the sway of a feminist icon in college and turns her back on everyone—boyfriend, friends, family—to fight for equality, or so she thinks. The activism is inspiring, but most touching is Wolitzer’s brainiac love story between Greer and her hometown boyfriend whose life becomes struck by unexpected tragedy. (Glamour)
The High Season by Judy Blundell
Ruthie Beamish is our hero here—she’s a museum director in the North Folk (that’s Long Island) village of our dreams. Every summer she, along with her family, vacates their inherited beach house to make way for high-paying summer renters (it’s how they afford it in the first place), and this year her temporary tenant brings along a whole lot of drama. Ruthie is forced to navigate a straying husband, a struggling teenage daughter, and a museum board full of socialites drunk on power. (Entertainment Weekly)
Tangerine by Christine Mangan
If you're still thinking about the dark twists of Gone Girl, look no further than this gripping drama about friendship and marriage. Alice Shipley and her husband have moved to Morocco, where Alice is struggling to adjust. An old friend unexpectedly visits Alice, and soon after, Alice's husband mysteriously disappears—leaving Alice to wonder if her old friend is to blame. Trust us, you'll want to read this ASAP, especially since it's already been optioned for a movie starring Scarlett Johansson. (Good Housekeeping)
When Life Gives You Lululemons by Lauren Weisberger
Instead of re-reading The Devil Wears Prada for the hundredth time this summer, try Weisberger's newest offering, which catches up with our favorite frosty assistant, Emily Charlton. She's left Miranda behind to build a career as a publicist to Hollywood's elite. But when she finds herself dealing with a fallen supermodel in Connecticut, she'll realize that Miranda isn't just part of her past, but in fact could become a valuable ally. (Good Housekeeping)
Summer 2018 Book Preview: Best Beach Reads for Vegging Out
25 Must-Read Books That Will Make July Fly By
The 25 Best New Books for Summer 2018
The 39 Books We're Talking about This Summer
The Best New Books Coming Out Summer 2018
The 40 Best Books to Read This Summer
The 17 Best Books to Read This Summer
Summer is officially here and the melting interior of my car is proof. People walk by with plaintive looks on their faces that cry, “Why is it so hot!” My empathetic face responds with, “It’s time for a trip to the beach.” The crystal clear water, sugar white sand, and cool Gulf breeze are the cure for everything that ails you. So go home and grab your swimsuit, the sunscreen, the beach towels, the cooler, and your chair, but you can’t leave until you pack something great to read on the beach. There are a number of lists of best beach reads for summer 2018. Here are a few titles that appear on several lists along with links to the lists themselves. Have a great summer.
Clock Dance by Anne Tyler
In this new novel from Anne Tyler, central character Willa Drake’s life takes an unexpected turn. After playing many roles defined by the choices of others, she agrees to take care of her son’s injured ex-girlfriend and, in the process, becomes part of a new community and begins to re-write her future. (Southern Living)
The Female Persuasion by Meg Wolitzer
Welcome to the novel of the #MeToo moment—and my favorite book of the summer. Greer Kadetsky falls under the sway of a feminist icon in college and turns her back on everyone—boyfriend, friends, family—to fight for equality, or so she thinks. The activism is inspiring, but most touching is Wolitzer’s brainiac love story between Greer and her hometown boyfriend whose life becomes struck by unexpected tragedy. (Glamour)
The High Season by Judy Blundell
Ruthie Beamish is our hero here—she’s a museum director in the North Folk (that’s Long Island) village of our dreams. Every summer she, along with her family, vacates their inherited beach house to make way for high-paying summer renters (it’s how they afford it in the first place), and this year her temporary tenant brings along a whole lot of drama. Ruthie is forced to navigate a straying husband, a struggling teenage daughter, and a museum board full of socialites drunk on power. (Entertainment Weekly)
Tangerine by Christine Mangan
If you're still thinking about the dark twists of Gone Girl, look no further than this gripping drama about friendship and marriage. Alice Shipley and her husband have moved to Morocco, where Alice is struggling to adjust. An old friend unexpectedly visits Alice, and soon after, Alice's husband mysteriously disappears—leaving Alice to wonder if her old friend is to blame. Trust us, you'll want to read this ASAP, especially since it's already been optioned for a movie starring Scarlett Johansson. (Good Housekeeping)
When Life Gives You Lululemons by Lauren Weisberger
Instead of re-reading The Devil Wears Prada for the hundredth time this summer, try Weisberger's newest offering, which catches up with our favorite frosty assistant, Emily Charlton. She's left Miranda behind to build a career as a publicist to Hollywood's elite. But when she finds herself dealing with a fallen supermodel in Connecticut, she'll realize that Miranda isn't just part of her past, but in fact could become a valuable ally. (Good Housekeeping)
Summer 2018 Book Preview: Best Beach Reads for Vegging Out
25 Must-Read Books That Will Make July Fly By
The 25 Best New Books for Summer 2018
The 39 Books We're Talking about This Summer
The Best New Books Coming Out Summer 2018
The 40 Best Books to Read This Summer
The 17 Best Books to Read This Summer
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