Hi Neighbors!

After I mentioned The Midnight Library in a newsletter last month, a reader reached out, asking for more book recs. As I sent my list to her, I realized it’s been awhile since my last book roundup. And what better time than the thick of summer? While I’ve never understood the whole “beach reads” concept (I read whatever I want, regardless of the season), my reading routine definitely changes during the summer: I fly through books and seize any opportunity to read outdoors, preferably poolside or with my toes stuck in the sand.

Below are a few books I’ve enjoyed recently (I’ve linked to Amazon, purely for the plot summaries and reviews, but please consider shopping at your local independent bookstore, like here or here:

• What Comes After – In a Pacific Northwest town reeling from the murder-suicide of two high school boys, a mysterious pregnant teenage girl appears, inserting herself into the lives of the boys’ grieving families. This profound, gorgeously written novel will have you in its clutches from page one.

• The Girl with the Louding Voice – The narrator’s dialect might feel disorienting at first, but your patience will be rewarded by this unforgettable tale of a poor, motherless Nigerian girl who longs for a proper education.

• A Woman Is No Man – Three generations of Palestinian-American women struggle mightily against the soul-crushing expectations of their Arab culture and face devastating consequences. Tragic but gripping.

• The Push – Blythe Connor is convinced her daughter is pure evil. The problem? Given Blythe’s traumatic past and postpartum struggles, no one believes her, including her husband. Definitely NOT for the faint of heart (there’s some tough material here), but I raced through this tense, suspenseful tale in three days flat. I was literally reading pages while cooking dinner (which explains the overcooked chicken last month).

• Writers & Lovers – A book about a young woman writing a book (stay with me here). The first 30 pages or so are a bit slow but hang in there. I found the main character so relatable and endearing; by the end my heart felt like it would burst into a million pieces. One of the most authentic books I’ve read in a long time.

• The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett – After a lifelong series of betrayals and disappointments, 85-year-old Eudora Honeysett makes plans to die via euthanasia in Switzerland. Her plans are thwarted, however, when a curious and outgoing little girl named Rose moves in next door and shows her just how much she has to live for.

OK now it’s your turn…what’s in your TBR pile? I’d love to hear! Post your recommendations below in our comments section!

Happy Reading,
Kate