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Top Pick

  • 50 After 50: Reframing the Next Chapter of Your Life by Maria Leonard Olsen. My friend Maria wrote this wonderful guide to overcoming obstacles and becoming the best version of you, even if you're on the "wrong" (I say "right!") side of fifty.  

  • A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini No surprise here, I guess. Here are your reviews: "Follow-up to The Kite Runner. Challenging life of women in Afghanistan during the Taliban rule." … "I am enjoying it, though it's depressing! I preferred Kite Runner I think but am only half way through and it's picking up... it's a good read if you are interested in the plight of women in Afghanistan...not light summer reading!" … "I started reading this one, and it's a page- turner. It' got a historic backdrop of some 30 years of Afghanistan turmoil." … "Unbelievably sad yet uplifting, this story centers on two women in modern Afghanistan and the men who love or abuse them. Not for the faint of heart -- I cried like a baby."

  • Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow.  Also Hamilton The Revolution by Lin Manuel Miranda. "Listen to the Hamilton soundtrack 5-6 times.  Then read this book.  Then see the show.  Then find a 12-step program because you will get hooked." “I’m making my kids read the Chernow biography before we will take them to see Hamilton. This has two benefits: 1) help them appreciate the show more; 2) ticket prices will come down by the time they get through it.” And: "Given the craziness around Hamilton the musical, I decided to re-read Chernow's book on Alexander Hamilton. Hearing Manual Miranda's lyrics from Hamilton the musical practically every morning I drive my daughters to school, I was interested in the translation from book to musical. It is amazing how his lyrics tell the breadth and depth of Hamilton's story as well as the book. To some extent, Hamilton's life was both amazing and a soap opera, making a great story for a biography or a musical. My only complaint is with some of Chernow's writing. On numerous occasions he feels like he has to show off is SAT vocabulary when a more accessible word would do."

  • American Dirt by Jeannine Cummins. [Ed: Yes, we realize we're not the first to tell you about this novel, but so many of you raved, we couldn't NOT include it as a top pick!] "Could not put it down. I stayed up ridiculously late to read it, and didn't regret it one bit, despite my bleary-eyed state the next day."  "Best book I have read all year.  Despite the controversy about the author's qualifications to write this book, I found  it to be a compelling story.  The story follows Lydia, a bookstore owner and widow of a slain journalist, and her 8 year-old son, Luca, who are forced to leave everything and flee Mexico after a drug cartel kills their entire family at her niece's quinceanera. More than anything, it is a reminder of how fleeting life can be and that we are all just one bad circumstance away from desperation." "I read a lot of the critical reviews of this novel, and I was frankly baffled by them. It's not their argument that not enough Latinx writers are published. They might be right about that.  That doesn't speak to the book itself, though.  What baffled me was the idea that this novel would delight immigration opponents. I don't see how anyone could read this novel and not emerge with more compassion for the plight of those who are so desperate to reach this country."

  • The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach. “Very tender story of several students (two of whom are on the college baseball team), a college president, and his daughter. All have their own problems and concerns, and each is sympathetic in his/her own way. Intelligent and well-written.” And: “May this author write more! Prep school must-read.” From my friend’s Goodreads review: “The characters are not perfectly written, but they are very engaging. Harbach does a good job of giving us several different narrators who all have their own distinct voice, even if some are better fleshed out than others. The baseball is interwoven throughout the book but not hard to follow for those not well versed in the sport. There is a driving plot that keeps you turning the pages… There is a lot to enjoy here.”

  • Beach Read by Emily Henry.  Right in our sweet spot, no? The instant bestseller appeared on all the "anticipated books of summer"-type lists.  "Chick lit, kind of, but not *ugh* chick lit."  "Beach Reads tells the story of January Andrews, a romance writer who needs to finish her fifth novel, but whose faith in romance has been shaken. January flees to a Michigan lake for the summer, only to find that her next-door neighbor is her former college writing rival, Augustus Everett.  Gus, a writer of (terribly serious and unredemptive) literary fiction, is also suffering from writer's block. The polar opposites (but ARE THEY?) agree to a genre-swapping contest: January will write a lit fic novel, and Gus will pen a genre romance.  Whoever writes the better novel wins.  The loser will have to write a blurb and help promote it. It's definitely got the 'Hating Game' vibe, but with more mature characters and emotional layering."  "I really enjoyed this novel. The author made a big effort at establishing the chemistry between the characters. Deeper story than I expected."

  • Beautiful Ruinshttps://ci5.googleusercontent.com/proxy/w-2Eup8veIPkXJfxUsc9joVPRlWWqUBREyJ0hrNZw6rbJUCwoRut0kr2-PyDIJuzbD1SURcqokkKPM9-WyXZELPC-GwZRkqoPgo-yiLfmFfmIM-n3KA7AiIQ=s0-d-e1-ft#http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=beach0c-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0061928178 by Jess Walter. "A lovely novel set alternately in the Italian coast in the 1960s and Hollywood today... transitions between a beautiful young cast member of the Cleopatra movie who was involved with Richard Burton, a young hotelier in Italy, an American writer who summers in Italy and an American film producer and his assistant."

  • Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity by Katherine Boo.  "Reads like fiction, amazing story and characters." And:  "Unbelievable book - kept thinking it had to be fiction.  It was so brutal."

  • The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine by Michael Lewis. "Very good reportage on the financial meltdown from the viewpoint of several people who 'shorted' the housing market and made a killing while the banks imploded." "For those who want a quick read (except the middle) of what happened in the CDO market between 2007 and 2009." (NB: latter comment from contributor who is extremely well versed in financial services – she found a chunk of the book to be extremely technical, but said it not vital to understand everything to get the gist of/enjoy the book. I'm thinking it might be like the philosophical riffs in The Elegance of the Hedgehog, some of which I found pretentious, and great chunks of which I skimmed).

  • Big, Little Lies by Liane Moriarty.  This was on the list last year, but so many of you told me you loved it, I'm promoting it to a top pick this year. VERY beachy.  (NB: Moriarty has another book coming out in July called Truly Madly Guilty)  “Another hilarious novel from Moriarty whose familiar female characters share all of the petty conceits the rest of us do – but articulate them far more humorously. Voted top comedy on Goodreads last year, this story involves a murder at an elementary school parents’ party, but neither the killer nor the victim are revealed until the end.  Among the hysterically recognizable cast of characters: the members of a “support group for the parents of gifted children.” "Murder mystery among parents at a private school in Australia.  Twists and turns.  Characters you will love and hate and fight for." "I had an absolute blast reading this book about parents at a little school in Australia. It is clear from the start that someone was killed at a school fundraising event, though we don't know who or what the circumstances were. Moriarty takes us back through the months leading up to the event, tying the stories of various characters together in an artful fashion. She intersperses this with little snatches of dialogue that are evidently from police interviews with parents who attended the party. These are HYSTERICAL. So, yes, it's a satire. But it's not an over-the-top, cover-to-cover campy satire (those exhaust me). It's also a murder mystery, a romantic story, a friendship story. It's very clever but also very human with endearing characters and love-to-hate characters, and some in between. I just had the best time." "Why did I resist this book for so long? This book was a blast - - overall the story has a light tone and yet Morriarty covers some pretty heavy topics including spousal abuse and bullying. The characters were well drawn, sympathetic, the humor was actually quite funny and the observations about marriage, the parenting culture, and class differences among friends were all spot on. I originally dismissed this as chick lit and I guess it is but it makes me realize that not all chick lit is created equal."

  • Bittersweet by Miranda Beverly-Whittemore.  Gothic suspense.  From Amazon:  Plain scholarship student Mabel Dagmar is surprised when her glamorous blue-blooded roommate at their prestigious east coast university befriends her, even more when Genevra "Ev" Winslow invites her to spend the summer at Bittersweet, her cottage on the sprawling Vermont estate owned for generations by her family.  Mabel falls in love with the place, finds a love interest and begins to feel like one of the Winslows.  But she soon discovers a dark side to this family - will she keep the secrets?  Lots of twists will keep you turning the pages.

  • The Boys on the Boat by Daniel James Brown. “Amazing book - my favorite. A true incredible story. Not at all just about crew -more about overcoming hurdles. During the depression these boys that lived in severe poverty were able to triumph through perseverance. Very humbling which is needed to keep us all grounded. Also very inspiring. And fascinating historical tidbits woven throughout - ie about Hitler. Hint: the beginning is very slow. The reader just has to stick it out through the beginning - it picks up and you become hooked."

  • Brooklynhttp://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=beach0c-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1439148953by Coim Toibin.  This was on the 2012 New Fiction list. It was bumped up this year on the strength of additional enthusiastic reviews.  Eilis Lacey grew up in a small town in Ireland after World War II.  When an Irish priest from Brooklyn offers to sponsor her in America, she decides she must go, leaving behind her fragile mother and vivacious sister.  “I loved the tone and the voice of the narrator, the way the story was sparsely told and yet so full of life.  Toibin shows us so much about the time and experience of Irish immigrants in the years after World War II without telling us explicitly."  (Great interview with author here: BBC)

  • The Bullet by Mary Louise Kelley. Mary Louise is a former NPR reporter and a friend of this book list and many of its contributors. And she definitely knows how to write a suspenseful thriller! Protagonist Caroline is 37 years old and having pain in her wrist. An MRI reveals a bullet lodged against her spine. WTF? She’s never been shot. Or so she thinks. Her parents reveal she was adopted and that her birth parents had been murdered. Caroline sets out to find out what happened. Needless to say, “events ensue.” “Light read but a page-turner, set in DC. Protagonist is a Georgetown Prof who grew up in Cleveland Park.”

  • Campusland by Scott Johnston will be released August 13th, but I'm giving it top billing, because it's gotten great advance praise, and because my friend-in-law wrote it. Sorry - not checking my (editorial) privilege. From Kirkus:  "Been to college lately? Here it is in all its glory, from the trigger warnings and the bias response teams to the hookups and the hashtags, served with plenty of kombucha and seasonally correct vegan stew."

  • The Charm School by Nelson Demille. Okay, I cheated and added this NOT NEW book after the list was published. Until this Russian spy story emerged, this book might have seemed a little dated. But hey! Cold War intrigue is BACK, baby, and suddenly this novel is not only timely, but seems weirdly prescient. If you haven't had the pleasure of reading this great old (v beachy) book, I highly recommend it. I remember when I got to the end of this book, I absolutely HAD to be somewhere, but I absolutely COULD NOT put it down. DeMille's best, I think. Maybe now that fear of Russian spies is once again in vogue, they'll finally make a movie of it.

  • Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Schiff Biography. “Not one I would have picked up but given to me by a friend. I devoured it in a few days." … “Great read, great history as biography.” … “Read this on your Kindle or with dictionary at your side. A light rompy read, this is not... however, it is a very interesting and well researched story about the mesmerizing Cleopatra.”

  • Crazy U: One Dad's Crash Course in Getting His Kid Into College by Andrew Ferguson. Non-fiction. “Ferguson's book about college admissions makes you scream, ‘WHAT are we DOING?’ The book’s narrative focus -- Ferguson’s son’s journey through college admissions – stands alone in depicting the utter madness that defines the process of trying to get a kid into college (and then, somehow, paying for it). But Ferguson reinforces the sense of lunacy with interesting history and analysis. And Ferguson is SO funny. To wit, Ferguson, having been told his son should ‘dig deep’ and talk about his ‘innermost thoughts’ when writing his essay, Ferguson observes ‘seventeen-year-old boys do not have innermost thoughts – and if they did, neither you nor I would want to know what they are.’)” As the Washington Post put it, ‘It may seem strange to say that a book so full of heartache is a pleasure to read, but Ferguson's storytelling is irresistible. ’ Ferguson only begins to touch on the question that is probably at the heart of the higher ed bubble - is a Bachelor's degree truly worth a quarter million dollars and an unspeakable hassle? - but he does get you thinking.”

  • Crooked Letter, Crooked Letterby Tom Franklin. Murder mystery/thriller. Black Silas Jones and white Larry Ott were childhood friends, though they kept their friendship quiet in 1970s Mississippi. A girl disappears after a date with Larry, who is universally suspected (though not convicted) of the crime. Flash forward to present times. Silas is now the constable and another girl disappears. Larry, an outcast all these years, is again a suspect. The story of their old friendship and mysteries – old and new – unfold. Contributor comments: “Compelling with great southern Mississippi atmospherics. Larry Ott is a truly pathetic character (in the real meaning of the word) -- heartbreakingly so. I read the book in a couple of days.” … “A reasonably simple story of murder and friendship set in Mississippi, beautifully told, with real character development even for the supporting roles, and a few twists - no huge surprises, but nicely woven together.”

  • Cutting for Stone (Vintage) by Abraham Verghese. I am not sure I know anyone who didn’t love this book. It’s about identical twins born to a beautiful Indian nun in Ethiopia. (Yes, really.) She dies in childbirth, leaving them to be raised by one of the most wonderful couples I’ve ever encountered in literature. I'm not going to say how long it is … read it on the Kindle, as I did, and find out AFTER you’ve finished it. Comments: "Gorgeous writing style and story." "The book opened so many windows -- allowing a rare glimpse into Ethiopia, into surgery (NEVER thought I'd want to read all of that!), then crossing the pond with our protagonist to his life at a hospital in the Bronx."  "My goodness, I loved this book. Sweeping, yet intimate family saga of twin brothers born to a doctor and a nun-nurse and how their lives unfold. Stranger in a strange land, what is home, what is family -- all themes in this beautifully written book."

  • Defending Jacob by William Landay. “Very readable and fast paced.   A district attorney's son is accused of killing a classmate and his father is thrown into the case. The author's description of life and the people in the upper middle class town ring true and so do the feelings and conflicts of the accused's and victim's parents.” Another contributor writes, “This is a legal thriller in which a 14 year old boy is suspected of murdering a fellow student. As the case wears on the parents’ belief systems are sorely tested. The fictional father is an established assistant D.A. and supportive of his son. The book has been likened to Anna Quindlen’s ‘Every Last One’ in its connection with that tiny bit of uncertainty that parents may have about their children.  There are many twists in “Defending Jacob” which keep one reading right to the end.”

  • Do the Work by Steven Pressfield.  This is a little book. A very little book.  But it’s the most wonderful volume for anyone with creative ambition.  I can’t recommend it highly enough.

  • Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia by Elizabeth Gilbert. Everyone seems to be talking about this book: "Fun quick read for travel and food lovers." … "Read it on vacation and thoroughly enjoyed it." … "A journalist recounts a whirlwind year of self-exploration in three countries. This woman experiences more in one year than most of us experience in a decade! Warning: the section on Italy caused me to crave pasta and wine--well, more than usual. This woman's life experiences are so different from mine. I had trouble identifying with the author, but I still enjoyed the book and found it very worthwhile."

  • The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbury.  "Reading it now and while it took me a while to get into it, I am completely caught in its spell now. Set in Paris, it is about a combination of intriguing and surprising people who all live in a well-to-do apartment building in Paris. It’s a major life themes kind of book with lots of humor and kindness to offset some of the heavy stuff. " Same contributor, about a day later: "Okay I confess that I just read then end of the Hedgehog and it was really wonderful. One of the best books ever. Practically sobbing, but not in a miserably sad way. It was just beautiful and is one of those books that gathers steam." "A wonderful story about a child living in a crazy French apartment building and considering killing herself. I did love this book. Apparently child psychiatrists make it mandatory reading for their patients."

  • Eligible: A modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice by Curtis Sittenfeld. “Known for her novels, Prep and American Wife, Curtis Sittenfeld’s new book Eligible puts a modern-day twist on Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.  This version tells the story of the Cincinnati Benet family and the parents’ quest to marry off their five daughters.  Two daughters living in New York come home when the father has a health scare. Two new-in-town doctors become perfect candidates for the Benet daughters.  The book is clever and funny -- even includes a dating reality show participant.  It is a quick read and easy to follow.”  “A perfect summer read (and a welcome break after finishing Infinite Jest)... humorous and insightful window into the Bennet family."  "The plot is a familiar one with modern twists.   Before moving to Cincinnati, Chip Bingley was the star bachelor of a reality tv show called Eligible in which 25 women compete for a marriage proposal. It is a good, comfortable read- perfect for the beach or a long plane ride.” “Wonderfully tender and hilariously funny, Eligible tackles gender, class, courtship, and family as Curtis Sittenfeld reaffirms herself as one of the most dazzling authors writing today.” “She really knocked it out of the park.  If you liked Sittenfeld's Prep - her first novel - or Jane Austen, you will enjoy it.” [Ed: As an Austen lover, i have been wary because of some of the reviews online. I pressed one reviewer who added the following: "Like it or not, Eligible provides an accurate, albeit slightly conflated (e.g., her sister’s marriage to a transgender Cross Fit instructor) look at what is happening in the world today.  I decided to laugh and appreciate the author’s ability to hit on nearly every trend, norm and societal issue through the different characters and situations." She recommended P&P lovers just have fun and think, "I see what you did there Sittenfeld."  Those who haven't read P&P read this first as the accessible version then read the original.]

  • Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes. I added this one mid-summer, because it is so wonderfully beach bookish.  A smart romantic story about a young widow who is... well... starting over. Small town Maine, lobsters, romance, a major league baseball pitcher who has inexplicably lost his ability to pitch - what could be better on the beach?  It's charming and funny. The dialogue is crackling. The story is poignant.  It's just terrific fun. NB - author is the host of NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour podast.

  • The Expats by Chris Pavone. “Great spy drama. Exciting – it unfolds like a flower. TOTAL page turner.” And: “I really liked the flashback structure. Pavone has a unique way of using flashback that keeps you guessing about the characters and whether you can or cannot trust them.” And: “Very gripping and hard to put down. A spy story starring a wife and mother who in between intrigues goes shopping at European Costco and takes clandestine meetings while the kids are at school. Loved it!”

  • Faithful Place by Tana French. "How had I not heard of Tana French before last summer? In this, her third novel, an undercover Dublin cop is called back to his old neighborhood by his sister. He’s avoided the place since his girlfriend disappeared twenty-two years earlier, just before they were about to elope. Her suitcase has been found in an abandoned house, turning all his old assumptions upside down. He investigates (failing to mention to his higher-ups his personal involvement in the case). It’s a dark, compelling page-turner. French is a master of story and character and an exquisite writer. (NB: If you like Faithful Place, do not be tempted to think her earlier works must be even better. Unlike some writers who get lazy after one success, French’s work has only improved. It’s best to move on to the sequel, Broken Harbor)."

  • The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary.  “It’s weird how easily you can get to know someone from the traces they leave behind when they go.” This line from The Flatshare is ostensibly about tea.  Tiffy and Leon share a flat, but, as he works nights as a palliative nurse and she works days as a book editor, it's some time before they even meet in person. Even before they do, however, they begin to know one another by "traces” left behind (like a nearly-empty mug of tea in the sink) and through post-it notes they write to each other, which are amusing and, as the novel proceeds, increasingly heart-warming. At first, The Flatshare seemed like pretty standard British chick lit. What unfolded, however, was a much richer story than I anticipated - a story about the other traces people "leave behind when they go," including scars from emotional abuse.  The premise is amusing, the characters are quirky, there are lots of Britishisms, and even an awkward encounter in the bathroom that would have worked perfectly in a 1990’s Hugh Grant rom com. And it has the tied-up-with-a-bow ending. However, it's far more interesting than the average fare.  I thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated it.

  • A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles.  This isn’t exactly a revelation.  Amor Towles’ Rules of Civility was a previous top pick, and this book was much-anticipated and was an immediate hit.  But I can’t not include it as a top pick, because it just IS a top pick. The story follows an aristocrat who is sentenced to house arrest in a luxury hotel in Moscow during the Russian Revolution and stays there for decades.  "The book is a lot more fun than it sounds.  Well written and the narrator is quite an engaging character.  There are some implausible plot twists but otherwise a very good book."  “Loved it.  What a wonderful character.  So much to chew on and think about, but also just a rollicking good story.”  “Loved it. My whole book club loved it.”

  • The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins. “It is a fast read and captivating. The kind of book you don't want to put down. I actually listened to it on audible.com and loves hearing the British accents of the characters. It really brought the book to life.”...”Definitely has similarities to Gone Girl. Both books are psychological thrillers told from different points of view.   I found it interesting that the author, Paula Hawkins, points to Tana French (Dublin detective series), Kate Atkinson (Jackson Brodie series) and Gillian Flynn (Gone Girl) as influences on her work. I look forward to Hawkins' second novel.”....”I'm 46 pages in and enthralled/confused/can't stop reading it.”....”This is a perfect beach read. The book moves along nicely and has many plot twists. “....”light, easy read/beach book -but page turner”

  • The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played with Fire, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson "I devoured them. Inhaled them. They are page-turners for sure, but with a social conscience. Mind you, a few of the scenes are very troubling and difficult to read. But there is nothing gratuitous about them. The characters are some of the best I’ve read in a long time, I think of them often." and "Hands down MUST read is the girl with the dragon tattoo trilogy. Just finished all and now will spend the rest of the summer with end of book blues. I dare you to find something better...amazing character development. Makes you want to go get some piercings and kick some a**." The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. “The first in the trilogy, this Sweden-set thriller warms up after the first third with great characters and a fascinating plot. Warning: a subplot is violence against women and some of the descriptions are quite graphic.” “It took a few chapters to get into the story, but then I was hooked! A total page turner.” “scary, but a page turner. Don't read if you're home alone!” The Girl Who Played with Fire. "The second book in the trilogy - more exciting and polished than the first. Larsson, who died shortly before publication, was a master." "Double wow! I liked this one even better than the first." "It's as intense as the first book with a cliff-hanger ending." The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest. "I haven’t read it yet, but only because I’m saving it for a trip to BVI later this month. Hear it’s fantastic!"

  • The Glass Castle By Jeannette Walls. This emerged as the “must read” for the summer of 2006. Has been called an American Angela’s Ashes. “So touching, sweet, sad and hilariously funny. Page one and you are hooked. You MUST read it!"

  • Goldfinch by Donna Tartt.  I know, I know … I'm sure this isn't the first you've heard of this book, but too many of you loved it not to include as a top pick.  Some of your comments:  “The story begins with an explosion at the Metropolitan Museum that kills narrator Theo Decker's beloved mother and results in his unlikely possession of a Dutch masterwork called The Goldfinch. Shootouts, gangsters, pillowcases, storage lockers, and the black market for art all play parts in the ensuing life of the painting in Theo's care…”  “Wonderfully well-written book with great characters and an interesting plot that carries over many years.  It is the story of a young boy who ends up in possession of the Dutch Master painting The Goldfinch by Carel Fabritius.  His desire to protect the painting and what is represents to him defines the choices he makes and the people he comes in contact with.  It is a long book and at times the writing seemed repetitious, but worth the effort.“ “Gripping novel, non-thriller page turner, fabulous writing that gives you the opportunity to google new vocabulary words every 10 pages or so...  I am ¾ thru…expect it may end somewhat predictably but don’t care. I am thoroughly enjoying the literary ride!”   “Well written, absorbing story. It's long but push through the one slow part and you will be glad. Good to read in one fell swoop.”   “Loving the goldfinch so much, went on to read her older The Secret History, which I did not like because the characters were mostly self-absorbed little rich kids and no one seemed to have the guts to stand up for what is right.”  “not exactly 'beach' read, long..is one of those books I think if written in pre kindle times would have been edited more! But...that said, did love the story and struggle of a boy becoming a man in a very messed up situation but a few admirable adult characters.”

  • Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. This book made the list as a unprecedented "midsummer top pick addition" in 2012.  "I'm sure most of you have at least heard of it, if not read it. A gripping psychological thriller.  Very hard to put down."  One contributor commented, “A lot of HATE in that one!"

  • The Good Daughter: A Memoir of My Mother's Hidden Life by Jasmin Darznik. “After her father dies, the author discovers a photo of her Mom at age 13 in a wedding dress - with a man who is not her father. The book is the story of her mother's forced marriage in Iran and her efforts to build a life - it certainly made me glad that my daughters are growing up in America.” Another contributor called it “Fascinating and well-written.”

  • A Good Neighborhood by Therese Ann Fowler. “This is a timely novel, one that had me by the throat from the very beginning.  It's not a happy story, but while it'll break your heart, it's also searing and well-paced, and beautifully written. A Good Neighborhood tells the story of a widow named Valerie, who lives with her teenage son Xavier. Valerie, who is black, loves Oak Knoll, her neighborhood in western North Carolina, and while her house is far from grand, in her backyard is a very grand and very old oak tree.  When self-made HVAC millionaire Brad Whitman purchases the lot behind Valerie and Xavier, he razes the house and builds a much larger one, damaging the roots of the oak in the process. Things get complicated when Xavier and Brad's stepdaughter Juniper get romantically involved, and when Valerie decides to sue.  The novel is narrated by Valerie's neighbors ('we'), a device that lent an ominous Greek Chorus-style tone, and gave voice to the fellow residents of Oak Knoll, the pseudonymous 'good neighborhood.'"

  • The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai.  This compulsively readable book consists of two interwoven narratives:  In one, we meet Yale Tishman, a young gay man in 1980s Chicago, a time when the AIDS crisis was hitting its terrible peak. The development director for an art gallery, Yale is attempting to acquire some valuable art from an elderly woman named Nora.  The second narrative is from the perspective of Fiona, Nora’s great-niece and Yale’s good friend.  Fiona is in Paris, trying to track down her estranged daughter, who disappeared when she joined a cult.  The novel is a poignant reminder of that terrible period, as well as a powerful contemplation of memory and community. 

  • The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. "Delightful light summer reading. Great version on audio book if you have a long drive to your vacation spot. Our little ones didn't mind listenting to this -- they found the British accents endearing." (Ed: I flew through this book and enjoyed the history, but it's an epistolary novel, and I felt the letters were written in the same overly ingenuous style. But I think I might be the lone crank on the subject, so don't let me stop you.)

  • The Guest List by Lucy Foley.  One of Today Show's anticipated novels for this summer.  "Agatha Christy with a modern twist."  "A wedding weekend on an isolated Irish island provides the wonderfully ominous setting for this psychological thriller.  On the night of the wedding, someone is murdered, and the whodunit is unwound via the perspectives of six different characters. A storm, a bridezilla, a power outage, and loads of interpersonal tension ratchet up the tension. The novel takes place over two days, but it took me less time than that to read the entire thing." "I started this one night (during a power outage - not very strategic, given this novel's eeriness) and finished it less than twenty-four hours later.  Super propulsive, cool setting, heart thumpingly good read. Multiple POVs, but the only time I lost the thread was when I stopped reading in the middle of a chapter."

  • The Hating Game by Sally Thorne.  Since this list is supposed to be “beach books,” I’m adding this enjoyable, lightweight novel.  It’s about colleagues, a man and a woman, who cordially despise one another.  Gee? I wonder what happens.  It is chick-lit, I suppose, but well-written and fun, and richer than it first appears.  Five stars for beach-worthiness.

  • The Help by Kathryn Stockett. "Initially I thought it would be one more (deserved) stab at racism in the South, but this is different. A very different voice and very real. Great book for discussion. Easy to read, good beach book."  "This book, set in the 60s in the South, against the backdrop of the civil rights movement, explores those timeless bonds between women --regardless of race, of age, or of position in life." And another:  "This is my favorite book of the year and it should definitely qualify as a beach book. It is a page- turner for sure. I told a friend about it and she told me that she stayed up until three in the morning to finish it (she has small kids so this is no small sacrifice) … It’s just so engrossing, I wish I could start it over again. Walked by a woman the other day who was reading it sitting on a bench – she said she cannot put it down." I am on vacation with a friend who bought the book last night and was immediately engaged, saying it had changed her vacation. Now she “really has a book.” You know that feeling.

  • High Risingby Angela Thirkell.  I know this isn't a usual top pick, and I got some blowback when I put Woman in White on the list a few years ago, but 1933 novel is so charming, if you're in the mood for cozy British fiction, please consider it.  It was out of print for many years, but Virago Modern Classics has republished it.  Like other British provincial novels, it is simultaneously about very little and absolutely everything.  This is one of her Barsetshire series, whichtake place in Anthony Trollope's fictional English county, Barsetshire.  "High Rising is everything a cozy British novel should be. Thirkell has created a small village of wonderful characters including a strong widowed heroine who supports herself writing pot boilers and can still afford staff and a son at Eton. Light, charming, quaint, funny - the kind of book you read when you just want to feel good in a safe world where the biggest concern is whether or not the neighbor is going to marry his secretary."

  • Hillbilly Elegy by JD Vance. "An amazing story of one extraordinary man’s climb out of Appalachian poverty and into the elite halls of Yale Law School.  Along the way, JD Vance describes in detail his upbringing, the problems with Appalachian culture as he sees them, his time in the armed services, and his ideas on the difficult task of helping those people left behind in the current economy.  It helped me understand, if not sympathize with, parts of America whose votes and actions are affecting all of our lives, whether we live there or not". "There is a reason why this book has created so much buzz.   Yes, it is a story of forgotten America -  white Appalachia, the Rust belt, etc, but Vance’s voice makes it worth reading.  He shows remarkable objectivity and humanity in his writing and analysis.  He seamlessly connects his family’s experience to larger historical, economic and demographic developments".  "A book is for the geeky beach reader. This is the book that made the rounds of discussions among parent gatherings this winter and spring. It is a story about the struggle of poor, white Americans told from the perspective of one who made it to Yale law school via the Marines. JD Vance has been touted by book clubs as a window into the most recent election of Donald Trump and thus he has made it onto the pages of The Washington Post and other newspapers. I would say the book only explains a piece of the November election, but it is a fascinating piece told with a mix of pride and humility."

  • The History of Love  by Nicole Krauss.  From Amazon:  "A long-lost book reappears, mysteriously connecting an old man searching for his son and a girl seeking a cure for her widowed mother’s loneliness.  Leo Gursky taps his radiator each evening to let his upstairs neighbor know he’s still alive. But it wasn’t always like this: in the Polish village of his youth, he fell in love and wrote a book. . . . Sixty years later and half a world away, fourteen-year-old Alma, who was named after a character in that book, undertakes an adventure to find her namesake and save her family. With virtuosic skill and soaring imaginative power, Nicole Krauss gradually draws these stories together toward a climax of “extraordinary depth and beauty” (Newsday).

  • Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh.  "Allie, where have you been all my life?  I read some of blogger Allie Brosh’s humoristic memoir (which also features quirky cartoon drawings) to my teen daughter. We were laughing so hard we cried.  Brosh’s life has not been easy, and she is raw and honest in taking on tough topics, but she’s SO DAMNED FUNNY."

  • The Imperfectionists: A Novel by Tom Rachman. I gather this book is like Olive Kitteridge – a bunch of stories loosely woven together. It’s gotten mixed reviews on Goodreads, but friends gave it raves: "I've been reviewing some of the books I read on Amazon and will be giving this one 5 stars once I think of a review that is worthy. Don’t read the summary on Amazon, just read the book!" and: "I raced through this book in a day, devouring the vignettes of characters who work for an American newspaper headquartered in Rome. Each chapter tells the story of a different employee at the paper. .. Between each chapter/character study is the ongoing back story of the paper's history and its founder, an American business man who leaves his wife and family in Atlanta to move to Rome and create the paper as a way to connect again with an old flame. There is nothing new about building a novel out of a series of connected short stories and the newspaper world creates a microcosm that works will with this technique. Rachman writes with a warmth and humor and an obvious affection for these ‘imperfect’ characters - his style elevates what could have been a fairly average book to something more substantial." (Ed: Just read that Brad Pitt acquired the movie rights.)

  • In the Unlikely Event by Judy Blume. Okay, I haven’t read it. It just came out. But it’s Judy, and we know it’ll be good for the beach! UPDATE - I read it!  You should, too, if you like a beach book.  It kept me perfectly engaged through two long flights and a ferry ride.  Most of the novel is set during a short period in the early 1950s when three planes crashed into the city of Elizabeth, NJ.  There are multiple points of view, but the protagonist is a teenager, Miri, so we get a good dose of Judy Blume doing what she does best - creating likeable teenage characters.  I loved Miri - she copes.  It's not as "beachy" as Summer Sisters, but only in that it's not set on a beach.  It has other attributes of a good beach book - nicely written, propulsive movement (no pun intended) well drawn characters.  Synopsis:  “In 1987, Miri Ammerman returns to her hometown of Elizabeth, New Jersey, to attend a commemoration of the worst year of her life. Thirty-five years earlier, when Miri was fifteen, and in love for the first time, a succession of airplanes fell from the sky, leaving a community reeling. Against this backdrop of actual events that Blume experienced in the early 1950s, when airline travel was new and exciting and everyone dreamed of going somewhere, she paints a vivid portrait of a particular time and place—Nat King Cole singing “Unforgettable,” Elizabeth Taylor haircuts, young (and not-so-young) love, explosive friendships, A-bomb hysteria, rumors of Communist threat. And a young journalist who makes his name reporting tragedy. Through it all, one generation reminds another that life goes on.”

  • The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd  “Kidd’s sweeping novel is set in motion on Sarah’s eleventh birthday, when she is given ownership of ten year old Handful, who is to be her handmaid. We follow their remarkable journeys over the next thirty five years, as both strive for a life of their own, dramatically shaping each other’s destinies and forming a complex relationship marked by guilt, defiance, estrangement and the uneasy ways of love.”  “This exquisitely written novel is a triumph of storytelling that looks with unswerving eyes at a devastating wound in American history, through women”  “This is a flat-out masterpiece. Kidd has always written beautifully about the power of relationships between women (Secret Life of Bees) and in this book she does so again, set against the realities of slavery in the early 1800s. She focuses on fractious and loving mother-daughter relationships as well as how women grow in wisdom as well as years. The writing is perfect in every respect. This one deserves to become a classic.”

  • The Jane Austen Society.  "If you like Austen, this is a must-read.  Mostly set prior to and during WWII, the novel is about eight very different people joining together to form the Jane Austen Society, who share the goal of preserving Ms. Austen's last home in the little village of Chawton.  The group includes a doctor widower, a farmhand, a former schoolteacher, an actress, one of Austen's relations and a solicitor. Lots of pride, prejudice, sense and sensibility.  Not the most propulsive, but, like Austen's novels, it builds well to a satisfying conclusion." [editor's note: made this a top pick, as there are indeed a lot of Austen lovers among this list's contributors and followers].

  • The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh.  "A wonderfully creative premise - using flowers and what they stood for during victorian times as a means to express feelings for an orphan who grew up mostly in abusive foster homes - and a nicely woven together story, with some extreme moments. Overall an entertaining and at times heart wrenching read.”

  • The Language of Man. Learning to Speak Creativity.  by Larry Robertson.  (Link goes to website - will be available on Amazon soon, but better for author if you order directly anyway).  I've been listening to a lot of podcasts lately about creativity, which is why I was so excited when Larry told me about his new book.  It's about creativity in PRACTICE.  He uses neuroscience, philosophy and the experiences of MacArthur Fellows (the "genius grant" awardees) to make a compelling case that we are wired to be creative.  It's SO smart.  It doesn't just tell you that creativity is not the sole purview of a few fortunate people - it shows you. In the words of Brigid Schulte from the Washington Post: “Within the first few pages of his fascinating new book, The Language of Man, Larry Robertson shatters deeply-held myths that creativity and genius are the birthright of a mere handful of elites, bringing the vaunted notion of genius out of the clouds and into our everyday lives. In a carefully constructed argument, backed by wide-ranging research from neuroscience to philosophy and the engaging stories of some of the most creative people on the planet, Robertson instead shows how creativity, more than anything, is a mindset, a habit, a choice, and the limitless and necessary birthright of us all. The accessibility of creativity this book reveals and the possibility it opens our eyes to are utterly captivating.

  • Let’s Take The Long Way Home: A Memoir of Friendship – Non-Fiction by Gail Caldwell. Gail Caldwell and Caroline Knapp (author of Drinking: A Love Story) became best friends after meeting over dogs. “If you love dogs and women....this is the book for you.”  “It says a lot that Gail Caldwell’s ferociously anguished chronicle of her best friend’s terminal cancer, that it manages to be, among many other things, a properly intelligent examination of the way in which dogs can help heal our past, enhance and challenge our knowledge of ourselves, even shed light on the mysterious workings of the human soul. If female friendship is the beating heart of this book, then a bond with a dog is the vein of pure tenderness that runs through its pages. You feel that the women’s friendship would never have existed in quite the same way without this crucial, balancing canine element." 

  • Lincoln at the Bardo by George Saunders "This is such a different way of story telling (including quotes - real and fictional - about Lincoln and the historical setting). I think going in without a lot of preconceived ideas and just letting the story unfold is the best way to go. The premise is Lincoln visiting his eleven year old son's grave the day of his burial. But really the heart of the book for me was the wide ranging cast of characters who are between the worlds - in the Bardo of the title - and their touching, funny, tragic, and heart breaking stories. I listened to this book on audio which I highly recommend. There are over 160 voices and they all bring these characters to life (so to speak). Many of the characters make fairly brief appearances but they are vivid in my memory.”

  • Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng. "Best book I read in 2017, by far. Family structure craziness, adoption shenanigans, a free spirit, a troubled daughter … this book kept me up well past 3 a.m., turning page after page.";  "This is a great suburban novel by an author who understands that readers like good writing, rich characters and interesting themes – but also like A GOOD STORY.  It opens with this line:  'Everyone in Shaker Heights was talking about it that summer: how Isabelle, the last of the Richardson children, had finally gone around the bend and burned the house down.'  Needless to say, that got me interested.  What’s with this Isabelle?  Why did she burn her own house down? The novel then goes back in time in order to answer those questions, through the stories of two families. Ng asks us sympathize with all her multidimensional characters, even those whom we might wish to wholly despise. Unlike so much of the suburban literary genre, it does not rely on adultery and dark pathologies, as if living in the suburbs must be a soul-sucking horror show.  That said, the characters are flawed, and those flaws have consequences, such as a nice home burned to a cinder."

  • The Little Way of Ruthie Leming: A Southern Girl, a Small Town, and the Secret of a Good LifeBy Rod Dreher. “It's a wonderful book--just released and debuted on the NYT bestseller list. A story of family, community, small town America, illness, and a meaningful life. Ruthie Leming – the author's sister and a non-smoker – is diagnosed with a rare form of lung cancer in her early 40s. Little Way tells the tale of what happens in the wake of her diagnosis. The ways in which a community rallies around the Leming family and the ways in which it profoundly changes her brother Rod, the author. It's a beautiful book and I highly recommend it to you readers. I couldn't put it down and--despite crying several times during the book. I felt happy and uplifted after reading it. Little Way is a rare book and I hope you and the beach books list will give it a whirl.”

  • Love That Boy: What Two Presidents, Eight Road Trips, And My Son Taught Me About A Parent's Expectations by Ron Fournier.  "Believe the rave reviews of Ron Fournier's book about his autistic son Ty, Its brave, wise and big-hearted and has so much to say to all of us about parenting."  "Ron's son has Asperger's. Ron's wife suggested he take Ty on some road trips to presidents and presidential libraries, a passion of Ty's. The trips would be good for father and son and would help Ty to learn those things that don't come naturally, like making eye contact and modulating his voice. The book is about those trips."  Here's an interviewwith the author that will make you cry.

  •  Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll.  MID-SUMMER ADDITION!  I read this until 4:00 this morning, so please excuse my incoherence. This is such a quintissential beach read, I felt it was worth calling to your attention.  Also, because I almost didn't read it because of the weird cover - so weird I just had to include a picture of it.  (WTH?).  Okay, brief synopsis:  Through sheer force of will, TifAni FaNelli, now known as Ani (Ah-Nee) has finally gotten everything she wanted - the rich, blue-blood fiance, the awesome job, the right clothes.  But she is both haunted and driven by some terrible, very public incident from her high school years, when she attended an elite school on the Main Line in suburban Philadelphia. You go back and forth between her high school life and her present-day "perfect" life as the old story unfolds.  I hadn't read much about it, but enough to be warned that the "Gone Girl" comparisons are overdone, which they are.  It's dark and you aren't sure how reliable the narrator is (or whether you're supposed to love her or hate her).  I am probably too tired to think through all the many flaws, but as this is (ostensibly) a "beach book" website, I think the key words are:  "read this until 4 a.m."  The most Gone Girl-esque thing about it was how it grabbed me by the collar and didn't let me go.

     

  • Major Pettigrew's Last Stand: A Novel by Helen Simonson. "What a terrific first novel. It's about a widower in a small English town who falls for a Pakistani widow who runs a shop. The writing is lovely, as is the story. This is an author who knows and plays to her strengths. Yeah, it's a little neat, but who cares? It was a delight to read, a feast for Anglophiles. Like this bit of dialogue:

    'But he already has a title,' said Jasmina.
    'A Scottish title isn't really the same thing at all,' the Major said.
    'Especially when you buy it on the Internet,' added Roger.

    There were times I wasn't sure if I shared the author's sensibilities -- intentional perhaps. In the end, all who deserved my compassion had it."  "I listened to this on audiobook, which was excellent."

  • Me Before You by JoJo Moyes—“This is one of those books that really makes you sad to finish. Charming characters and good twists. Heartbreaking and also happy if that is possible.” …  “love love the subtle romance and touching "sigh" resolution. Nice to read a story about a bright 20 something in search of finding her importance too.” …  “the perfect beach book if you don't mind your tears falling into the surf. It's the stereotypical love story between people who have no business falling in love - but it's gorgeously written and makes a real statement about what's important in life. On a scale of 1 to 10, this one is an 11." 

  • Mike Isabella's Crazy Good Italian: Big Flavors, Small Platesby Carol Blymire. We’ve never had a cookbook as a top pick, but this one is special. Not only was it co-written by our clever and devoted contributor, it also includes great summery recipes. (Carol, among many accomplishments, also cooked her way through the Alinea Cookbook. See here).

  • The Mother-In-Law by Sally Hepworth. Lots of twists and turns in this new page-turner by the author of The Family Next Door.  Lucy's mother-in-law Diana is a challenging woman, to say the least.  Polite, beautifully-turned out, a leader in the community - and hard as nails. She turns up dead, but while she left a suicide note, the police are skeptical.  Suspenseful and engaging, and characters who challenge our beliefs and assumptions.

  • My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You I'm Sorry by Fredrik Backman. Elsa is seven years old. She is brilliant and bullied.  Before her grandmother (who had been her best – really only – friend) dies, she gives Elsa a letter and asks her to deliver it.  This is the beginning of what turns out to be a great odyssey, with Elsa delivering letters to various people to whom her grandmother wished to extend posthumous apologies.  In the process, Elsa learns about herself and her family.  It’s a heartwarming and engaging story.

  • Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult.  This is a typically gripping Picoult novel about a school shooting. "I haven't read anything that great recently but can't put this one down. Good summer fiction." Sterling is a small, ordinary New Hampshire town where nothing ever happens -- until the day its complacency is shattered by a shocking act of violence. In the aftermath, the town's residents must not only seek justice in order to begin healing but also come to terms with the role they played in the tragedy.

  • Norwegian By Nightby Derek B. Miller.  Evidently this novel has been a big hit in Europe. "I found it a little slow at first, and then I was taken on a great ride.  It is a well written novel that has many aspects to it.  It is hard to put it in one category. It is a thriller.  There is a historical piece, that I really enjoyed.   There is plenty of humor, and yet, it is very touching.  It has been awhile since I read a book that I didn’t want to put down, and didn’t want to end.  All the members of my book group thoroughly enjoyed it." "The protagonist Sheldon Horowitz, is a wise 82-year-old who carries the weight of many losses - his wife, his son (Vietnam), his friends. Then a woman upstairs is murdered in while he is hiding in the closet with the woman's young boy. Afraid the killer and his gang will return for the boy, Sheldon runs off with him, and an adventure ensues, with Sheldon's many memories woven through.  Sheldon's wonderful character emerges throughout the novel. It's just magnificent."

  • Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson. "A book about kids who spontaneously burst into flames? NOT my usual fare! I doubt I would have read it if not for a friend who pestered me until I relented. It's a wonderful read - dark and funny.  It's about a woman named Lillian, who has been asked by an old friend to help care for twin stepkids, who - yes - spontaneously combust when they're agitated."  "...loved that they didn't feel the need to explain why these children would catch on fire...they just did, and it was something deal with rather than a mystery to explain. I also really enjoyed the complex relationship between Lillian and Madison."  "At the heart of this book is a valuable message about acceptance."  "Read it. Trust me. Just read it."

  • The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency and other books in the Alexander McCall Smith series.  "The latest installment in the series (Blue Shoes and Happiness) was on the bestseller list earlier this year, but you need to read them in order. This book is more about the characters and the land and the move away from the ‘old ways’ than about mysteries. The characters really grow on you.” My mother-in-law also enjoyed 44 Scotland Street by Smith.

  • Olive Kitteredge by Elizabeth Stout "My favorite fiction book this year. So many facets of one life with perspectives from many. Half way through the book I looked at the questions in the back and one asked if I liked the main character Olive at which point I thought ‘No, absolutely not!" but by the end of the book I really did like and appreciate her.’  "Great writing. It weaves subtle, sad, and at times shocking life stories in a Maine town."

  • One Day by David Nicholls. This novel, published in 2009, has gone a little viral, perhaps because of the impending movie adaptation. Contributor comments: “It should be called ‘One Date,’ as it's about a whole bunch of July 15ths, over a period of 20 years in the lives of Dexter and Emma. I liked peeking into the window their lives, one day (date) at a time, and felt the novel worked well structurally. I had a rooting interest in the outcome, and appreciated their witty exchanges.” … “Great read, well written, good characters.” … “Picking up this book was like reliving 20 years of time with two best friends I didn't even knew I had! Dexter and Emma meet at Edinburgh University on July 15 1988 and every chapter is a glimpse into their lives on July 15 for the next 20 years.”... "This would be a fantastic book to read on the beach. So engaging, you love the characters, well-written but v accessible."

  • The Paris Wife by Paula McClain. I think I might be the only one who has not yet read (and loved) this novel, so this may be a review in service of just me. In fact, it got so many recommendations that I had to winnow down the comments (which I did at random): "A simple, but nicely told story of Hemingway and his first wife during their time in Paris. The story comes across very real the entire time, you feel for Hadley, know that it all will not end well - and so does she pretty much, but totally understand her choices and her acceptance of the consequences. The writing is kind of lyrical.” …. “Interesting from two perspectives: historical and a love story. Liked because Hemingway is such a fascinating person. His huge self-confidence and adventure seeking persona are intriguing.” … “You'll want to reread Moveable Feast when you finish.”

  • People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks: This one also got a few votes. "I just finished this. One of the most interesting, well-written books I've read in a long time. She's a masterful writer and tells a terrific story." And: "I am in the middle of Brook’s latest and am totally captivated. As she has in her other books, the characters are quickly real to you and important. But this one is a mystery, really, about tracing the history of an ancient book. So far I love it, but I have always loved her books!"

  • The Perfect Mother by Aimee Molloy. From Amazon: “An addictive psychological thriller about a group of women whose lives become unexpectedly connected when one of their newborns goes missing.”

  • Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon's Journey into the Afterlife by Dr. Eben Alexander.  This book got many votes in 2013 when it appeared as a top non-fiction pick.  It is about a brain surgeon’s near death experience.   “This book had tremendous impact on me. Of course, Scientific American is discounting everything in it. I read it after a good friend died and shortly after the terrible tragedy in Connecticut occurred. As I watched the Rabbi, Priests, Ministers, etc., give their eulogies, it just was so clear to me that they were all praying to the same ‘person.’ Alexander's writing simplifies things in a way that gave me a language to explain these two events to myself and to my children. Highly recommend for anyone who is struggling or suffering from a loss.”  “This book doesn't constitute ‘proof,’ but it's an interesting addition to the literature on this topic. The author makes his case from his perspective as a neurosurgeon who underwent a critical illness and had a near death experience.”

  • Reunionby Beth Brophy.  "My friend and neighbor has just published this wonderful book about three friends who get together for a reunion to catch up and bond for a few days in a beautiful mansion in the resort town of East Hampton, New York. What could go wrong? A lot, as Faith, Holly, and Charlotte discover. Each of them is struggling with a major crisis, and past decisions that have led to their current predicaments. How will their futures be impacted, and will their friendship survive?  Great story, and beach book defined - set at the beach to read on the beach!" "Absorbing and insightful."

  • Room by Emma Donohue. Novel. “A riveting story, told entirely from the perspective of a five-year-old, which you would think would get tiresome but somehow doesn’t. It becomes clear quite early in the novel that the whole of the young narrator’s life has been spent in one room, though due to the absolutely heroic efforts of his mother to protect him, he doesn’t know what he is missing. Through the child’s eyes, the circumstances that led to their living in ‘The Room’ unfold, and events ensue.” … “Overall, do not be put off by the subject matter - the strength of the first half of this book makes it worth reading." Several of you commented on the relative weakness of the second half of the book, but all agreed it's a page-turner.

  • The Round Houseby Louise Erdrich. Lots of positive comments:  "Riveting and suspenseful, arguably the most accessible novel to date from the creator of Love Medicine, The Beet Queen, and The Bingo Palace, Erdrich’s The Round House is a page-turning masterpiece of literary fiction—at once a powerful coming-of-age story, a mystery, and a tender, moving novel of family, history, and culture."  ...   "Modern day version of To Kill a Mockingbird. Very interesting story about life on an Indian reservation in the Southwest."

  • The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan. “It would be too easy to say this is Wills/Kate/Harry fanfiction. It’s certainly inspired by that, but it’s actually really smart, funny, delightful, and juicy. Perfect summer read, so says USA Today and The New York Times. I loved it.” “This book is absolutely ridiculous. Absurd and flawed, and I absolutely adored it and only wish I’d saved it for the beach, because it really is a dictionary definition ‘beach read.’” About the novel:   “American Rebecca Porter was never one for fairy tales. Her twin sister, Lacey, has always been the romantic who fantasized about glamour and royalty, fame and fortune. Yet it's Bex who seeks adventure at Oxford and finds herself living down the hall from Prince Nicholas, Great Britain's future king. And when Bex can't resist falling for Nick, the person behind the prince, it propels her into a world she did not expect to inhabit, under a spotlight she is not prepared to face.” 

  • Rules of Civility by Amor Towles. This book actually appeared on last year’s list. It was suggested by publishing industry friend and was published mid-summer. Everyone who read it seems to have loved it: “The writing was just beautiful. The plot reasonably straightforward, with some interesting twists, yet what made this book was the writing. A treat!” And: “I was so surprised when I realized the author was a man.” Another contributor: “chronicle of the life of a young woman in New York in the 1930's. The author writes the way we wish we all could - fabulous metaphors combined with graceful prose that tells the truth, even when it hurts. You won't see the plot twist coming toward the end of the book, either.”

  • The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes. “Every sentence builds the story…The book becomes a mystery although for the first half it feels like a very straightforward narrative of Tony Weber remembering his school days, his boyhood friend, his first lover and then his marriage and fatherhood. There is much here about memory and the way we create and shape our own life story into something we can live with ourselves and present to others. In the second half of the book we are shown another side to this narrative and Tony and the reader has to reconsider what we thought of his version of the past. I would recommend reading this book without knowing a lot about the plot so that you can try to piece the story together along with Tony (which is why I'm writing very little about the plot here). There is a lot to think about with this book and I'm still lingering on the after effects.” And: “You will read this short compelling book twice in order to make ‘sense’ of it. A middle aged man looks back on what he thinks are his memories of a college romance, and sees things completely differently the second time around. Short, sweet, and thoughtful.” And: “an interesting reflection on the character's life and some mistakes he made along the way.”

  • sorry you are not an instant winner by Doritt Carroll. Another midsummer addition to the 2017 Great Beach Books top picks list!  Doritt's poems are powerful, so candid and true.  In reviewing one of Doritt's earlier chapbooks, Grace Caveliari of the Washington Independent Review of Books said it best: Doritt "hones each thought diligently until it acts  precisely the way she chooses. These are carefully made poems from  templates that have antecedents in our craft, but that are particularly  targeted on a page that could belong to no one else."  I owe Doritt a debt of gratitude. She, along with Kristina Bicher, whose book Just Now Alive was on the list a few years ago, reignited my love of poetry.  Poems, I've realized, make great vacation reading, wonderful for digesting and enjoying when our minds have some room to run.

  • Standard Deviationby Katherine Heiny.  This is a "stop the presses" addition to the 2017 top picks list.  This novel features my new favorite character in fiction, the pathologically uncensored Audra.  It's a wonderfully readable story, tailor-made for the GreatBeachBooks.com crowd.  I read most of it on a long flight, and I laughed out loud more times than I can count.  Everyone must read it, then we can all get together and talk about who among our mutual acquaintances have strains of Audra running through them.  If you want to learn more, read this Washington Post review, which does a good job enumerating the book's virtues.

  • Still Alice by Lisa Genova. I wouldn’t ordinarily peg this as summer reading, but it got SO many positive reviews, and one of you even gave me a copy. (From Amazon): "In this novel, the author, a Harvard neuropsychologist, tells the story of a Harvard neuropsychologist who realizes she is suffering from early onset Alzheimers. A claustrophobic first hand account of her world as it grows ever smaller." Comments: "The most accurate account of what it feels like to be inside the mind of an Alzheimer's patient I've ever read. Beautifully written and very illuminating." "A very interesting book about a female professor who has Alzheimers. It and decribes what is happing to her as she becomes more and more disoriented. It is a fictional book, but the author went to great lengths to learn what Alzheimers patients go through as they slowly lose their memory."

  • The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin. “This is a feel-good novel, very beachy. It’s been compared to the Book Thief, but I think you’ll be disappointed if that’s what you’re expecting. It’s about a very crabby widowed bookseller. An abandoned baby comes into his life and everything changes. It sounds schmaltzy, but it’s really not. Okay, maybe a tiny bit schmaltzy, but not maudlin. How’s that for a review? Just read it if you haven’t already, it’s good for the beach.” “Every now and then I find a book where the words just leap off the page into my eyes as if it's reading itself. This delightful little wisp of a book is almost too fairy tale perfect. There is a cantankerous but loving bookseller, a smarter than average abandoned baby girl, a love story, a scoundrel, a comeuppance, a sad story, a happy story...every single thing you would want in a book that will whisk you away to a perfect little New England island world for a few hours."

  • The Story of Beautiful Girl by Rachel Simon. Several of you mentioned this new release. From Amazon: “It is 1968. Lynnie, a young white woman with a developmental disability, and Homan, an African American deaf man, are locked away in an institution, the School for the Incurable and Feebleminded, and have been left to languish, forgotten. Deeply in love, they escape, and find refuge in the farmhouse of Martha, a retired schoolteacher and widow. But the couple is not alone-Lynnie has just given birth to a baby girl.” Reviewers have used words like "enthralling" and "captivating."

  • Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky: Several people mentioned this book to me in person, plus I got the following reviews: "Beautifully written tale about life during WWII. The book is wonderful, but three times as good once you read the appendix." … "Loved this book. Story is so interesting as is the story of the author."

  • The Rosie Project by Graeme Simpson—“very charming main character that will make you think about every quirky but kind person you might meet.  There is a heart behind them.”  “A brilliant yet socially challenged professor of genetics, who’s decided it’s time he found a wife).”  “A brilliant, autistic-spectrum professor with no self-awareness or social skills sets out to find a wife using a detailed survey.  Of course, in the process of his research he meets Rosie, who meets very few of his criteria, but teaches him that love does not follow rules.”  “lovely, funny, poignant book about a professor with Aspberger's (although somewhat unaware he has it) and how he tries to find love and companionship...it sticks with you long after you've read it...One reviewer wrote "Touching and laugh-out-loud funny -- think The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time meets Silver Linings Playbook "  “New Zealand-based Professor on the spectrum creates questionnaire to find a wife. Ends up meeting someone who meets none of the criteria, but for whom he develops what he can only assume are feelings. He becomes obsessed with her quest to find her birth father.  A quick read (did it in a two days off and on), and a sweet story."

     

  • The Thirteenth Tale: A Novel by Diane Setterfield. Synopsis from Amazon: Margaret Lea, a London bookseller's daughter, has written an obscure biography that suggests deep understanding of siblings. She is contacted by renowned aging author Vida Winter, who finally wishes to tell her own, long-hidden, life story. Margaret travels to Yorkshire, where she interviews the dying writer, walks the remains of her estate at Angelfield and tries to verify the old woman's tale of a governess, a ghost and more than one abandoned baby. Comments: "I LOVED this book." and "I wish I'd saved this wonderful, entertaining gothic novel for vacation. The author was artful in how she built to the revelations, much in the style of 19th century gothic novels mentioned throughout." "Very entertaining."

  • This is Happiness by Niall Williams.  "The Irishest of Irish fiction, Williams tells the tale of Noel, a Dublin teenager, who goes to live for a while with his grandparents in their 200-year-old house in Faha, a small community in County Clare.  Noel has experienced a traumatic event, which he needs to process, and Faha seems the right place to do so - a placid village, relatively untouched by the hands of time.  Of course, there are ripples below the surface of this placid community, and Williams treats it all with great tenderness and Irish humor." "Okay, so it's not a 'beach read' in the 'propulsive, racing heart, skim the language to find out what happens' sense, but this author's beautiful, lyrical prose and wonderful story captured my heart, and while I didn't read it on a beach, I certainly could have." 

  • This Is Where I Leave You: A Novel by Jonathan Tropper. "Think back to the early days of chick lit... when it was good. Now, imagine it from a male perspective. Jonathan Tropper writes fiction from a guy's perspective that, I think, appeals to women (at least it did to me). The book opens with the main character's wife cheating on him, then leads to him joining his family in their childhood home while they all sit shiva for his dead father (who was an atheist). Forced to be in a room with four brothers and sisters day in and day out, stories unfold, hilarity ensues, and some sexual secrets are laid bare... all the chick-lit cliches, but written in a way that doesn't make you want to barf or stab someone." "Laugh out loud funny but tragic at the same time. Read it before they make the movie." "Jonathan Trooper writes compulsively readable, laugh-out-loud funny novels, and his fifth book, This Is Where I Leave You is his best yet." "I laughed out loud with this one and some things are over the top, but a delightful read."

  • The Twelve Tribes of Hattieby Ayana Smith. This book, like many these days, hovers between short story and novel, with stories eventually woven together to form a whole, growing richer as it progresses. Readers learn about a mother, Hattie Shepherd, through the stories of her many children. "Yes, it felt like an Oprah book but still very good." ...  "It's a novel in which each chapter tells the story of one the main character's children. So it's a bit like short stories that are woven together. It is easy to get into and it follows a large family from the segregated south who struggle to find their way out amid poverty and racism. It is compelling and well written and on Oprah's book list."

  • Twilight by Stephanie Meyer. Many contributors assured me I would get beyond my doubts. (You know … doubting that I can enjoy a teen vampire book?) Truly, though… The series seems to have gone viral from teens to their curious moms to the big world beyond. Some of your comments:  "My No. 1 beach read... I can't think of anything more perfect to get absorbed in while ignoring the kids at the beach and engaging your 10th grade babysitter in the whole Edward vs. Jacob debate."  "I am so enjoying these books." "If you like Jane Austen, you will like these." "If you have been hesitant because of that "vampire thing," jump right in. There's so much more than that, including an amazing love story, you almost forget the vampire thing. And this was a great series to share with my 12 year old daughter (Note: Definitely pre-read the first part of the fourth book in the series before handing over to a daughter!)” " CRACK! Pure crack. I was a huge doubter... and now I am hooked. I wish I had saved them for the beach .. They would have been perfect, mindless, a one-sitting- book-a-day reads."

  • Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand. By the author of Seabiscuit: An American Legend, this is a biography of Louie Zamperini, an Olympic runner who wound up an Air Force Lieutenant and prisoner of war in WWII. By all accounts I’ve seen, Unbroken reads like fiction – a “breathless” narrative style, in the words of the New York Times. Contributor comments: “I am not usually a nonfiction fan but this story is too amazing not to read. Laura Hillenbrand's story is pretty interesting as well. She lives DC and suffers from chronic fatigue syndrome.” … “Definitely not my usual pick but impossible to put down.”

  • The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett. [ed: sold out in hardcover!] "An instant and timely bestseller, this novel tells the story of identical, light-skinned African American twins, Stella and Desiree Vignes. Traumatized by something they witnessed, the twins fled Mallard, their small Louisiana town at age sixteen, and headed to New Orleans. While Desiree eventually returns to Mallard, Stella takes another path and builds a new life on a lie.  This novel is not just about race and unconscious biases (though it is about that). It's also about the meaning of family and home, and the way the consequences of actions can ripple through generations."

  • A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan. Each chapter in this novel, which won the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for fiction, is told from a different character’s point of view –friends and associates of a music producer/former punk rocker. Contributor comments: "Smart, modern, and well-written book dealing with the aging of a generation of hip youngsters." … "This is a fun but thoughtful book about...well...about a whole bunch of people who all have some connection to each other, some more than others, all dealing with different stages of life, and we meet several of them over again as they age or in their past. Confused? You won't be. I never felt out of place or out of time in this book. Egan does a great job of quickly establishing where you are at and with which character and then you fall completely into their story."

  • We Were Liars by E. Lockhart.   Dark.  Like pitch black, dark, but a fantastic, engaging read.  Do not read any more about it, just read it.  Ignore that it’s shelved as young adult.  “I read this in straight through in basically one sitting today. I really enjoyed the world that Lockhart creates with Beechwood Island and the Sinclair family. I may not have summered on a private island but I felt the New England island atmosphere was really believable and relatable. Lockhart nails so many of those feelings when you are young enough to still be governed by adults but old enough to run wild with your friends all day long. The foursome of The Liars will probably remind many people of their own childhood tribe - either one you were in or one you wish you'd been in. A terrific summer story - read it before you hear spoilers.  I read this in straight through in basically one sitting today. I really enjoyed the world that Lockhart creates with Beechwood Island and the Sinclair family. I may not have summered on a private island but I felt the New England island atmosphere was really believable and relatable. Lockhart nails so many of those feelings when you are young enough to still be governed by adults but old enough to run wild with your friends all day long. The foursome of The Liars will probably remind many people of their own childhood tribe - either one you were in or one you wish you'd been in. A terrific summer story - read it before you hear spoilers.” 

  • What She Knewby Gilly McMillan. Thriller by this new author is getting rave reviews, calling it very sophisticated and mature, especially for a debut novelist.  "Newly single mother Rachel lets her son run ahead to the swing. When she arrives, he's gone.  With amazing pacing, McMillan weaves a variety of narrators' perspectives in this taut thriller and police procedural.  The author is a keen observer of the savagery of the Internet and insentivity of the press."  "Addictive... Stayed up almost all night."  "Will keep you riveted to the last page."

  • Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. We imagine most of you have heard of this book, if not read it.  Reese Witherspoon picked it for her book list, and she was tapped to produce the film adaptation.  If you haven't gotten to it yet, have at it!  The novel tells the story of Kya, a young girl who is forced to raise herself in the marshes of coastal North Carolina.  Kya is a remarkable girl; gritty and resourceful. The marsh itself is a character in the novel, a surrogate mother of sorts. The novel alternates between two narratives: Kya's 1940s and 1950s childhood, and the investigation of the murder of Chase Andrews, a young man whose death forces Kya to confront the outside world.  Warning: Some felt it started a little slow, though all reviewers seemed to agree, once it got going, it was a rip-roaring read.

  • Where'd You Go, Bernadette?by Maria Semple. The author, among other accomplishments, wrote for Arrested Development, which might give you some notion of what you’re in for. The book is about a Seattle mother who disappears just as the family is about to go on a trip to Antarctica. Her 15-year-old daughter takes on the task of finding her. It’s basically an epistolary novel, but entire chapters consist of things like medical reports, faxes and police reports. Lots of satirical humor about Seattle, but you don't need to be from Seattle to appreciate it.  "So funny and wacky, Seattle humor." ... "Great beach book about an eighth grade girl whose mother has disappeared. Well written and funny with an interesting (but not off-putting) structure. I read it in three days."  ... “Very funny, clever writing with several LOL moments. Will appeal to Moms in our ‘over achieving’ [DC] area."

  • Wild Game by Adrienne Brodeur. “A memoir that reads like a novel, about the complexities of an unusually co-dependent mother-daughter relationship, the particularities of WASP culture, Cape Cod summers, and delicious food. Beautifully written, with can't-tear-yourself-away storytelling.”

  • The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins. "It’s a little late to call this a "hot book," considering it was published in 1859. I initially read it because of Nora Ephron’s rhapsodic endorsement here. Ephron wrote, "Days pass as I savor every word. Each minute I spend away from the book pretending to be interested in everyday life is a misery. How could I have waited so long to read this book? When can I get back to it? Halfway through I return to New York to work, to mix a movie, and I sit in the mix studio unable to focus on anything but whether my favorite character in the book will survive. I will not be able to bear it if anything bad happens to my beloved Marian Halcombe." This is EXACTLY how I felt reading this book (except the bit about sitting in a studio mixing a movie, since I wasn’t doing anything a tenth as glamorous). I could not put this book down."