Summer 2017 Reading List

08.01.2017

My long awaited reading list is finally here! I have been reading a ton lately but am only sharing the books I think are worthy of your attention. Check out some of my favorite novels from this summer and tune in for another round soon. Cheers!

The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena // Suspense Thriller
A baby is abducted in the middle of the night while the parents are having a glass of wine at their neighbors next door. Who took their child? This book had me entranced at the very beginning, desperate to know the fate of the family… There are so many twists and turns and Shari Lapena will have you hooked until the very end. I highly recommend.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling // Fantasy
If you loved Harry Potter as much as I did, this is a must-read. Find out what happens to adult Harry. It’s written in the format of a play so it takes just a few pages to adjust. Well written. Very good.

The Red Scarf by Kate Furnivall // Historical Fiction
A woman escapes a Siberian Labor Camp in 1933 in hopes to return and rescue her friend. This is a book I have read twice because I was so entranced with the story and characters.

The Secret Wife by Gill Paul // Historical Fiction
This book takes place in similar time period in Russia as the Red Scarf. It’s a fictional story of the royal Romanov family and an epic love tale. If you love mysteries and love stories, this one is for you.

Eligible: A Modern Retelling of Pride and Prejudice by Curtis Sittenfield // Chick Flick
Eligible is about exactly what the title says: a modern retelling of Pride & Prejudice. It takes place in Cincinatti and was the perfect girly book I needed after some other heavy reads.

Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua // Nonfiction
This was the first book I read after finding out I was pregnant. It’s a story about parenting as a Chinese woman in the Western World. It was highly controversial and extremely interesting. I recommend this to anyone curious about Chinese parenting and not only to those who are parents or becoming parents now. Amy writes so well and there are many laugh-out-loud moments. I was fascinated.

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton // Historical Fiction
I have raved about Kate Morton’s novels and The Forgotten Garden was another epic tale of love, mystery, family secrets, and a women set out to find out the truth of her origins. Taking place on the coast of a small town in England, it will have you dreaming of a seaside vacation all the while entranced in the deep dark secrets. I have not been disappointed with one Kate Morton novel.

The House at Riverton by Kate Morton // Historical Fiction
Another book you must put on your reading list. I rank it my 3rd favorite of the 3 I have read, but they have all been amazing page turners. This one took a little longer to get into but I couldn’t put it down once I got there. Perfect beach read!

Night Road by Kristin Hannah // Fiction
This is a love story as well as a story about motherhood, parenting, and the lengths we go for the ones we love. I have read several Kristin Hannah books this summer but this was one of my favorites. It had heartbreaking moments and I shed many tears along the way. But I loved the depth of each character and their many layers. This is a story about consequences & forgiveness.

After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid // Fiction
This was a really interesting book about a couple who takes a year off their marriage at the age of 30 to rediscover their love. I was really anxious about how this story would unravel: take a break from marriage? Separate for a year? But I saw many positive reviews on Goodreads and was eager to try something new. It was a quick read with lots of life lessons as well as some interesting and lovable characters :)

Cancel the Wedding by Catherine T. Dingman // Fiction
Cancel the Wedding is a perfect example of not judging a book by its cover… The title made me nervous but the second I started reading and getting to know the characters, I was immediately hooked. It’s about a woman named Olivia who goes on a hunt to dig up some information about her deceased mother’s secret past. As she does, she discovers so much about her family, and herself too. I absolutely loved this book and highly recommend you pick one up for your next beach read :)