Long hazy days around the pool, cool quiet morning on the dock with a coffee, those precious quiet moments before the kiddos wake up. These are just a few of my favourite moments of summer. The only thing that makes those moments just little sweeter? A book that is so good you can’t stand to put it down. What makes a good beach read? For me it has to be an easy read, one that is easy to pick up for a few minutes at a time, but equally so engrossing. I seek out the page turners. From romance, to thriller, to mystery, I like them all. Here are my picks for the best beach reads for the summer:
City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert: The author of Eat, Pray, Love returns! YES! This time with a sexy, historical novel set in in the New York City theatre world during the 1940s.
My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing: This thriller tells the tale of a husband and wife who are bored in their 15-year marriage. To liven things up in their relationship they do something more than a little bit unconventional. Instead of date night, role playing, or planning a vacay together, Millicent and her Husband engage in murder to keep their marriage alive. Oh, My. Word.
The Farm by Joanne Ramos: How did I miss this one? The debut novel for fans of The Handmaid’s Tale, about a secluded retreat where surrogates carry babies for the uber-wealthy. They are allowed to live in the lap of luxury as long as they play by the rules.
The Friends We Keep by Jane Green: Said to be a “simply unputdownable novel”, The Friends We Keep tells the tale of a group who have been friends since College. 30 years have past and now big secrets being revealed. Can their friendships survive?
Girls Like Us by Cristina Alger: A thriller to keep us guessing from beginning to end. Worlds collide when FBI agen,tNell Flynn’s, returns home and ends up investigating a string of grisly murder. The twist, the primary suspect just may be her father.
What was the last great book you read?
Elizabeth Matthiesen says
I’m a book alcoholic and love reading, I’m seldom to be found without a book in hand and a coffee in the other 🙂
Carol A. says
Looking forward to reading My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing. Always love reading thrillers with a twist.
nicky says
Am keen to read The Friends We Keep!
Paula Schuck says
I’ve not read any of these actually. I’ve been reading all of Karma Brown’s novels the last year or two. She is a very talented author and Canadian too. I just finished her: In This Moment and before that was The Life Lucy Knew. Highly recommend. Stumbled onto Sara Blaedel who is a Danish author of thriller/ crime mysteries. The Forgotten Girls was very good.
Lutz Barz says
The Idiot By Dostoyevsky. It’s a mixed bag. Not his best. Still compared to the anodyne and homogenized literature of today still far superior.
Elizabeth Matthiesen says
You’ve indeed chosen some very interesting books. They all sound like books I’d enjoy reading, though I must admit the title “My Lovely Wife” meant that I didn’t think that would be one for me, however reading on I decided it would be if a murder is involved as I love thrillers.
Jacki says
Ooo. Love a good summer reading list. Just picked up “Where the Crawdad Sings”.