5 Must-Read Books for Summer
5 Must-Read Books for Summer
By: Briley Rakow
Summer is the perfect time to dive into a new book, particularly if you find yourself hanging out at the pool or beachside over the next few months. Whether you are looking for romance, mystery, or something to tug on your heartstrings, there is a book (or five) calling your name.
2. Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Malibu Rising proves that having famous parents may not be all it seems, particularly with an absentee superstar father. The four children of musician Mick Riva navigate fame and relationships under the pressure of their father’s shadow. The novel takes place in a single day – the day of the Riva’s annual summer party – as the characters prepare for the big event. With flashbacks to the life of their mother and her relationship to Mick, Taylor Jenkins Reid creates a compelling story of family and purpose. The characters are easy to fall in love with and sure to have your attention until the very end.
2. Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney
Sally Rooney, author of Normal People and Conversations with Friends, is known for her direct writing style and calling attention to mental health in a unique and understated way. Beautiful World, Where Are You is her most recent novel, going back and forth between perspectives of two best friends living in different places for the first time since they met. Each is struggling in some form with the path they are on, and their stories are incredibly familiar and all too easy to connect with. Keeping with her track record, Rooney has once again created a beautiful world among simple people that is impossible to step away from.
3. The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave
If you enjoy a good mystery, The Last Thing He Told Me may be the perfect fit for your summer needs. Recently married and struggling to connect with her new stepdaughter, the main character is thrown into turmoil when her husband disappears, his business partner is arrested, and she is left with only a note saying “protect her.” This novel is full of twists and turns that will have you on the edge of your seat the entire way through. It not only peaks your curiosity but cuts into your emotions in unsuspecting ways. Laura Dave writes with excitement and just enough mystery to always keep you guessing.
4. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
About to become a major motion picture, Where the Crawdads Sing is one of the most popular books of the past couple of years, and it is easy to see why. With back-and-forth narration from main character Kya as she grows up to the modern day, the novel balances mystery with deep emotional connection in a way that is very difficult to accomplish. The characters are beautifully complex and the entire story rides a line between tragic and hopeful that is absolutely stunning to witness.
5. The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty
Liane Moriarty, author of Big Little Lies, is a titan of modern dramatic writing. Her stories are full of interesting characters, all with storylines that slowly reveal layers of the mystery within. This novel is set in Australia and overlaps narratives of various community members, all struggling with one thing or another. When a shocking revelation unveils the true colors of one town resident, the lives of all characters are shaken forever. If there is one thing that is certain about The Husband’s Secret – you will never know what is coming next.
Reading is a gateway into other worlds and there is no time like the summer to look for a little escape. For more reading suggestions and summer fun, keep reading on umsquaremagazine.com and follow us on Instagram @um.squaremagazine.
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