I have always been a passionate reader. I love opening a new book and having a quiet afternoon to sit and read. Bliss! Hopefully, you’ve got some stretches of uninterrupted time coming your way as the weather warms and schedules shift into summer mode. I read for pleasure—especially in the summer—and while I like to challenge myself with a thought provoking or difficult book (ask me about Caste by Isabel Willkerson, which I highly recommend), I also make plenty of room for thrillers, mysteries and romance. People start to avoid reading if they associate books with dread and sadness, but if they aren’t too proud to pick up the latest Elin Hilderbrand Nantucket romance, they might remember that reading is the most enjoyable way to spend a couple of hours. Here are six books I recently read that are interesting and fast moving, perfect for bringing to the beach, pool or plane this summer. Keep reading below if you want to see my want-to-read list of new releases for summer reading.
A Sexy Romance
You Had Me at Hola by Alexis Daria
Former soap opera actress Jasmine meets cute her new costar, Ashton, who’s coming from the telenovela world. They have secrets and avoid each other until they suddenly don’t.
Marriage Dramas
Good Company by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney
Flora discovers her husband Julian’s supposedly long-lost wedding ring, with rippling effects for them and their best friends Margot and David. The backdrop is the New York/LA acting world.
A young Black woman struggling to find her way as an underemployed artist starts dating the married Eric and weirdly becomes a part of their marriage and a friend to the couple’s adopted daughter.
Thrillers that aren’t too Scary or Bloody
The Power Couple by Alex Berenson
When their daughter is kidnapped in Barcelona, Brian and Rebecca race to find her, but there’s more to their motives then we first see. A must for fans of The Flight Attendant.
Who is Maud Dixon? by Alexandra Andrews
Florence becomes an assistant to a writer whose best-selling novel is published under the nom de plume Maud Dixon. Lots of twists and echos of The Talented Mr. Ripley.
Small Town Romance
Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes
The NPR commentator wrote a charming rom-com about a young widow in Maine who rents her attached apartment to her best-friend’s old friend, Dean, who was a major league pitcher but now has the yips. Lots of small-town drama and finally a romance.
More Summer Reading Recommendations
For more in-depth book reviews, check out LitzyDitz, a blog about books written by a friend of ours. She’s funny and spot on in her assessments of books. And for those of you who want new book recommendations, here’s a peek at my library on-hold queue. I can’t wait to read all of these this summer.
The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave
Finlay Donovan is Killing It by Elle Cosimano
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins
The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz
What’s on your summer reading list? Tag us @stylechallengers with your recommendations.
At this time, Style Challengers doesn’t receive any commission from products we recommend. We’re just telling you what we love because we love it!
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