Here’s my 2020 summer reading list of new releases (along with a few from last year not to be missed.)
Click on book title to be taken to Amazon, or grab your library card and check them out.
Either way, happy summer reading!
Beach Read by Emily Henry
Meet romance novelist January Andrews who is suffering from writer’s block. Let’s just say she ends up living on the beach next door to an old friend, who is also a writer. Sparks end up flying in this witty chick lit read that is perfect for lazy summer reading.
The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez
This is the smart romance you’ve been waiting for. Read it. You’re welcome.
I Was Told it Would Get Easier by Abbi Waxman
Waxman is one of my favorites authors lately, and her latest hit me right in the feels. It follows a mother and daughter as they tour colleges together, and explores all those deep and unavoidable feelings we have when our kids start leaving the nest. If you have teens, read this.
The Scent Keeper by Erica Bauermeister
If you’re a fan of Reese Witherspoon’s book club pics, don’t miss this wonderful coming of age story set on a remote island. This enchanting read will definitely take you away from your summer doldrums.
Camino Winds by John Grisham
I’m a sucker for a great Grisham tale, and his latest that brings us back to the familiar Camino Island (and a hurricane and a murder!) It’s the perfect legal/whodunit summer romp.
The Girl from Widow Hills by Megan Miranda
A great delicious thriller you’ll devour, with twists and turns you won’t see coming. Another Reese’s Book Club pic, you won’t soon forget this heroine from Widow Hills.
The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver
This one will give you all the feels, and at its core is a love story followed by unrelenting grief, and then another love story.
Redhead by the Side of the Road by Anne Tyler
All of our routines are in flux right now, and so is the protagonist’s life in Tyler’s latest novel. Dry humor meets heartfelt in this lovely story about life’s regrets and what could have been, and still can begin.
The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix
Described as Steel Magnolia meets Dracula, this is vampire horror/chick lit at its best. It’s funny and creepy and would make a great out of the box book club pick.
Pretty Things by Janelle Brown
Brilliantly told revenge tale, and an Amazon Best Book of April, meet two women from wildly different backgrounds who are on a collision course to each other in the most twisted of ways.
Never Have I Ever by Joshilyn Jackson
This is a one sitting read, because you won’t be able to stop reading this chilling domestic thriller that all starts with a harmless drinking game among women.
Happy & You Know It by Laura Hankin
Set in the Upper East Side of NYC, this is Sex and the City Meets The Nanny Diaries. This is dark, fun, and feels very reality TV-ish.
The Henna Artist by Alka Josh
Historical fiction fans will love this tale set in 1950s India, as it follows a young Indian girl’s quest for independence and freedom.
The Familiar by Amy Engel
This a dark thriller set in the Ozarks is about a grief filled mother on the search for her daughter’s killer. It is a Booklist and Publisher’s Weekly Starred Review.
All Adults Here by Emma Straub
This is Jenna’s Book Club pick (Jenna Bush from Today Show) and is a charming tale many of us in midlife can relate to. Family drama, aging parents, growing kids- it’s all here in this funny yet serious novel.
The Guest List by Lucy Foley
Another page turner to toss in your beach bag, and a Library Journal starred review, this thriller set at a wedding part off the coast of Ireland will keep you guessing til the very end.
Big Lies in a Small Town by Diane Chamberlain
Part mystery, part historical fiction, with an art themed plot twist, this emotional whodunit with strong female characters will keep you guessing.
Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner
Our favorite chick lit author is back again this summer with, well, BIG SUMMER. It’s the story of ex- best friends who reunite for a summer wedding, and it explores the deep complexities of female relationships, as well as living and dealing with relationships under the backdrop of social media.
Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano
A Today Show “Read with Jenna” book club pick, Dear Edward is the story of a 12 year old boy who is the sole survivor of a plane crash. This one is an emotional roller coaster but with an ending you don’t want to miss.
When You See Me by Lisa Gardner
Gardner fans will enjoy seeing old characters of her other books in this one, including Flora and D.D. Warren from Find Her. This creepy thriller is set in the mountains of North Georgia, and keeps readers guessing until the very end.
The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell
Dark, twisted, and haunting are just a few of the words used to describe Jewell’s latest psychological thriller. If you’ve never read any of her books before and you love nail biting suspense, start here.
The Guardians by John Grisham
All of Grisham’s books as of late have let me down, but that changed with this one. This felt like old Grisham, with a winding story set in a sleepy Florida town about a wrongly accused man on death row, this one never lets off the gas from page one. Read it.
The Jetsetters by Amanda Eyre Ward
Quirky and heartwarming, meet this jet setting crew of four estranged adult siblings- all reunited on a cruise by their mother. Witty, surprising, and laugh out loud funny, this is perfect for poolside reading.
The Lies That Bind by Emily Giffin
Giffin is back with a deeply intricate story centered around the disappearance of a man on 9/11, and the woman whom he met just a few nights before, who keeps up the search for him.
Meet Cute by Helena Hunting
This is a charming little romp that is perfect for hopeless romantics, and for those who are big fans of perfectly light-yet a little bit hot- kind of romance novels
You Are Not Alone by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen
This talented pair of suspense authors is back again with one of the most anticipated thrillers of 2020. It is a Booklist Starred review, and tells the story of a shy girl wanting more- and a different kind of life- than she bargained for.
The Wives by Tarryn Fisher
Another fast paced plot makes this title, named Amazon’s Best Book of January, perfect for vacation reading. Meet a woman names Thursday and her husband’s two other wives, and the secrets holding them all together.
The Nanny by Gilly Macmillan
Think you’ve found the perfect young woman to care for you children? You haven’t. This one takes a very unexpected turn at the end, and will keep you guessing who the bad guy, errr, nanny really is.
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste NG
This bestseller has been out for a few years, but it’s now on HULU as a miniseries starring Reese Witherspoon, so it’s time to read it if you haven’t yet.
The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman
One of my favorite books last year, Waxman does it again with this adorably lovely story of a shy bookworm, and the wonderful cast of friends around her that bring her out of her shell, and help her embrace her life and love.
The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
This is the heaviest title of the bunch, and is part historical fiction but all sweeping drama. It is intricate, deep, and deliciously written with paragraphs you’ll find yourself reading over and over again.
The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Dare
A stunning debut novel about a young Nigerian girl working in servitude, who finally finds her voice. Bold, heartbreaking yet inspirational, this is the “woman power” pick of the list.
Olive Again by Elizabeth Stout
The highly anticipated continuing story of Strout’s beloved Olive does not disappoint. These 13 interconnected stories of our favorite Mainer are full of magic and not to be missed.
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