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Summer Reads For Everyone

June 15, 2017

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Looking for a good book to read?

Check out my what to read right now list.

There's something for everyone. 

From WWII historical fiction, to young adult romance, grown up mysteries and non-fiction disasters.

It's bound to be an interesting summer.

Awesome Books To Read Right Now

This weekend we took advantage of the fact that the kids were home and schedule free and we escaped to the beach.

Yes, I know, we live at the beach, but visiting another beach is always fun.

We gathered shells, walked in the sand, shared several delicious meals and I read.

It's not something I often have time for, but for some reason when summer rolls around I read.

The Middlepause On Life After Youth

The book I brought with me is called The Middlepause: On Life After Youth by Marina Benjamin.

I saw it on my friend Melanie's blog and the title stuck in my head and before we hit the sand, I hit the bookstore.

It's the story of a woman who was thrust into menopause after a hysterectomy.

Of course, that detail aside, she was aging regardless.

The book jacket said that she has a teenage daughter, elderly parents with health issues, her own health issues and is grappling with the idea of what comes next in this chapter of her life.

Wow...this one hit home. I'm still reading, but suffice it to say that when she started the book by describing how she always felt about her old home, I was hooked.

Of course one book at the beach is never enough.

So whenever I go on vacation, I always head straight for the local bookstore. This trip, I found two books there that have made my list.

Zenn Diagram By Wendy Brant

The first is billed as a YA novel, but so many adult reviewers said that it was enjoyable regardless of your age.

It's called Zenn Diagram by Wendy Brant. It's been described as a meet-cute with a paranormal twist and I was drawn in by the book jacket.

High school characters, quick read, romance and a little magic.

After menopause and the - joys? - of aging, oh yes, I'm all ready to go back in time a bit for this one! Sign me up.

Sudden Sea By RA Scotti

The second is called Sudden Sea by R.A. Scotti.

It's about The Great Hurricane of 1938 that affected seven Northeastern states and is still regarded as the most destructive natural disaster in US history.

It recounts personal stories and I love reading nonfiction.

The storm seemed to come out of nowhere, due to the primitive weather predicting technology of the day.

So many poor souls were caught completely off guard.

Silver Screen actress Katherine Hepburn was among those caught in the squall. Since I had just seen a PBS documentary on the subject, I was ready to dig deeper and this book sounds perfect.

Of course, I just read a review from my friend Gina  about a book called Isaac's Storm, by Erik Larson. It's about the great Galveston Hurricane. That's on the list now, too.

When I decided to hit Amazon to see what was hot, The Life We Bury by Allen Eskens popped up.

It seems very interesting and similar themes to In Search Of A Name by Marjolijn van Heemstra.

It's about a young student who needs to interview a stranger for a biography project. He heads to the local nursing home and finds Carl, convicted of rape and murder, he has been medically paroled.

He's dying of cancer. However, as the story unravels the biographer has a hard time understanding how someone who was a courageous hero in Vietnam could also be capable of such awful crimes. With his friend (a girl!) he digs deeper to uncover the true tale.

I'm already hooked and figure by the time I finish reading about hurricanes and math class, I'll be ready for a suspenseful grown up mystery.

AND...I noticed that the picture I took at the vacation village bookshelf, includes The Life We Bury.

Books On Vacation

Coincidence? I think not.

Next up? A critic's suggestion.

The New York Times recommends The Woman In Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware.

Described as Agatha Christie meets The Girl On The Train with a giant adrenaline rush, I can see why it's so popular.

It's an intriguing summary, so I might dig into this one, but it gets mixed reviews and I don't like wasting my time on books I don't enjoy.

Anyone out there read it yet?

The Lilac Girls: A Novel by Martha Hall Kelly comes with a very favorable recommendation from my friend Carla.

It's historical fiction, which is my all time favorite, a WWII story about three woman. One, a NY socialite, the second, a Polish teenager and a third who's a German doctor.

Their lives connect when one of them is sent to a Nazi concentration camp for women.

My dad was a WWII tail gunner and my mom was a giant WWII history buff, plus I need to know how such disparate lives could intertwine, so I am ready to read this one now.

Thanks Carla!

Dear Carolina By Kristy Woodson Harvey

Lastly, you simply can't go wrong with any one of seven books from my friend Kristy Woodson Harvey.

She's the author of the Peachtree Bluff series, The Wedding Veil and more. Under The Southern Sky, recently made the NY Times Bestseller List. 

I haven't had a chance to read it yet, but you know it's a definite for this season.

And I'm so excited to include a brand new book The Gospel According To Maggie, by Deborah Globus.  Deb is a good friend of mine and to see her book published and available in stores is amazing.

But any one of them is perfect for warm, sunny afternoons spent at the beach. And a tiny warning, once you dive into her plots and characters, you'll be addicted. 

So there you have it, what I plan to read this summer.

True tales of the sea, historical fiction, a couple of mysteries...even a little young adult romance.

Because in summer we're all kids again.

Aren't we?

13 Books To Read This Summer 2021

What are you reading?

To read about some more good books you can visit my friends!

Carol at The Red Painted Cottage

Ricki and The Sketchy Reader

Kim Signature


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  1. Kim, they all sound like good books. I read everynight before I go to sleep, so tend to read ones that I don't have to think about too much. I admit, I love chick stories but I have been reading a lot of Catherine Ryan Hyde lately. Good author, fun but believable stories and great, great characters. Summer is , among lots of other things, a great time to read a book..Happy Thursday..xxoJudy

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    1. I agree, Judy! Summer is a great time to read a book. I used to read a lot in the winter, but the kids' schedules have obliterated any free time I seem to have then, so summer it is! Happy Thursday to you, too!

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  2. Ambitious reading for the summer! I should... read more often. I picked up one of my Zane Grey books that I got for a nickle each and read The Maverick Queen, which was very good. A cross between a romance, suspense and western. Written in the very early 1900's. The second and third ones I tried to read - lasted maybe 10 or 20 pages into each and then went back on the shelf.
    Considering the way my life is going lately, I need to re-read Watchin' God Book One: Listed Alphabetically, so I can relearn the lessons.
    And then there is the stack of early 1900's technical books I picked up on the side of the road in Bedford MA a few years ago. "The Wonder Book of" Wonders and Engineering Wonders, Machinery and The Wild. Amazing books! Also, "Towns of New England and Old England. Ireland and Scotland" to commemorate the Tercentenary of the Landing of the Pilgrims. 1620-1920". It's in pristine condition. In 3 years it will probably be worth quite a bit. I hesitate to turn the pages much!

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    1. Your collection sounds wonderful, Nancy. I love old books. I just grabbed a gardening book from 1954 at a church sale for a buck and I love turning the weathered pages. It's still great advice after all these years even if the pictures are a bit faded! Good luck with your own reading list...

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  3. just love this wonderful post! thank you!
    about every other summer i like to re-visit anne morrow lindbergh's classic 'gift from the sea'

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    1. I will have to check that one out, Tammy! I am always interesting in hearing about new to me titles.

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  4. Hi Kim,
    These are all great reads. I am in summer read mode too. Hope all is well with you. Have a great Thursday my friend.
    xoxo
    Kris

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    1. I hope you actually find some time to read this summer Kris! You are going to be a very busy girl!

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  5. Kim, Thank you for linking my recommended reading list. I've heard of The Life We Bury and I'm adding it to my list, along with Sudden Sea and A Man Called Ove, which I've heard is very good, too!

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    1. Carol, it's always fun to see what everyone else is reading!! πŸ™‚

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  6. Oooh, I like your list! It's as varied as mine is. I'm hoping to squeeze in a little nonfiction in the form of gardening books.

    Our book club read The Woman in Cabin Ten. Since I am the girl who never picks up on subtle clues, I was surprised a time or two. :)

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    1. Gardening sounds like fun, Stacey! I just picked up a vintage BHG gardening book...circa 1951 for a buck!

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  7. Thank you for the book recommendations . . .
    We must be on the same track . . .
    I listed some Good Reads in my recent post as well . . .
    Enjoy!

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  8. I've just reserved three of these books at my local library, per your recommendation. Thanks. I love to read.

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    1. Oh great! I’m so glad. I usually get my books at the library, too. I am always requesting something!! πŸ˜‰

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  9. I am currently reading an Adriana Trigiani book based on a forum where I'd gone to get recommendations. I read one ( from the local library ) and liked it enough to go back for another one from her.

    I always have non-fiction / spiritual books going on but I think that you are asking about fiction :)

    THEN at the library ( I was also picking up a Little House on the Prairie book for the grands ) I came across James Clavell "Shogun" and decided to re-read that...what a blast from the past. I'd read that long ago and there was a TV series made from it...wish I could watch that again :)

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    1. I love non-fiction / spiritual books, Deb. I always enjoy them when you share them on your own site. And I remember the Shogun miniseries!! It was right up there with The Thorn Birds!!

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    2. AH!! I forgot about the Thorn Birds until now! I loved that back in the day! :)

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  10. This is a great post!

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  11. Sadly reading is not an activity that I do very much anymore but it looks like you have a great assortment of books on your list. Nice.

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    1. Reading fell off my list for a long, long time, Lorri. However, we spend a lot of time at the beach in summer (chaperoning kids) and I cannot just sit. So reading it its!!

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  12. I love this post, I love book recommendations. I love mysteries, and at the moment especially historical mysteries, though I cannot stand a cosy mystery :-) From your list I've read The Woman in Cabin 10 and I have The Lilac Girls in my pile. Enjoy your summer reading.
    Amalia
    xo

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    1. The Lilac Girls looks like a great read. I am curious, did you enjoy The Woman in Cabin 10?

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  13. Love posts like these! I am always looking for recommendations on what to read. Right now I am reading Sophie Kinsella's books....lighthearted silliness from the UK.

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    1. Lighthearted silliness from the UK is my favorite...in books and movies! I will have to check your books out!

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  14. I'm excited to see that my book ZENN DIAGRAM made it onto your summer reading list! I, too, am in the throes of menopausal hot flashes, and it was fun and refreshing to turn back the clock (at least in my mind). I hope you enjoy it!

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    1. Thanks so much for popping by, Wendy! I was really taken by the description. It looks like a very fun read. I can't wait to dig in and yes, turning back the clock sounds just divine right about now! Best of luck with your book! πŸ™‚

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  15. Kim these are all great suggestions. I am in the middle of reading all of the Game of Throne books. They are like encyclopedias. So big and so packed with so many names.

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    1. I would need to take notes, Mary!! Enjoy!

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  16. Several of these sound very good, Kim. Now I just have to see if any are audio-available.

    Thanks for sharing,
    Carol

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  17. I always enjoy seeing what others are reading. It was probably my blog where you read about The Middlepause (https://comfyhouse.blogspot.com/2017/05/cleaning-out-bookshelves-and-my-current.html). Sorry to say, the book was disappointing to me. It'll be interesting to hear what you think. Right now, I'm in the middle of reading Eli the Good by Silas House - one of my favorite authors.

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    1. Yes!! Thank you!! I will add your link to my post. I couldn't remember where I read about it...see? Middle age! πŸ˜‰To be honest, I am still reading it. The end of the school year has had me on the ropes. School just wrapped up on Sunday and reading has fallen by the wayside. Although, so far it's a bit of a downer. I hope the book picks up a bit and she finds some silver lining to this aging process.

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  18. Kim, several books sound interesting. We're on a brief vacation right now & I'm catching up on reading. Mine are rather low-brow at the moment. Like Danielle Steele, who I normally don't read, but when someone gives them to me, I try to read them. I've enjoyed them & love to read when I have time. I also love history & historical fiction. Love the sound of Lilac Girls & the one about the Hurricane sounds fascinating. I'm also reading "Berlin Diary" written from the perspective of a journalist about the rise of Hitler. And another I'm loving...a biography of Father Flanagan, the priest who started "Boy's Town."

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    1. There is nothing wrong with a little Danielle Steele vacation reading, Florence! I hope you enjoyed it!!

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  19. Hi,
    Thank you for sharing Lilac Girls. It is a story that will last with you forever. It is good. I am still sharing parts of it with my husband on our walks.
    My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry
    by Fredrik Backman is what I am reading now. I also give it 5 stars!

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    1. My pleasure and I am eager to read it! I will also add "Grandmother" to my list. My oh my, I think I am going to be involved with my summer reading until December at this rate!! Haha!!

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  20. I'm curious about The Woman in Cabin 10 too. I keep hearing about it, but I'm one of the few that didn't enjoy The Girl on The Train, so I'm hesitant. Let us know if you like it. :)

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    1. I didn’t read Girl On The Train, but this one got a few stinky reviews. Hmmm. I will keep you posted.

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  21. The Lilac Girls sounds like a book I'd enjoy, Kim. I like WWII stories. Last summer (when I was on my blogging break) I read The Nightingale, which takes places in German-occupied France. An outstanding read, in my humble opinion (due to be released as a movie next year). Also, Orphan Train was a good book. Both recommended by my step daughter. So far I haven't had time to read this summer. I hope that changes. Enjoy your books! Hugs.

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    1. Your front porch looks like a great place to read, Nancy! I hope you get some time out there with a good book. I haven’t read those books. I need to check them out. I do enjoy WWII books, too…Hugs!!

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  22. I'm always looking for a good book to read. Thanks for the recommendations. Now I need to find the time to read. ;)

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    1. You and me both! Ha! It used to be easier when the kids were small and I had to lifeguard by the pool and the beach. Now that they are basically lifeguards themselves they don’t need me at the pool…and don’t want me at the beach! ;)

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  23. Hi Kim, thanks for sharing this great list of summer reads. I always have a book going and just finished The Walk series(4 books) by Richard Paul Evans. Now I'm just beginning Slightly South of Simply. It's fun to read by the pool, after dinner on the patio and late nights.
    Many you share here sound interesting so I will have to add some titles to my list!!
    Have a great day and Happy Summer. So nice to see you on IG too.

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    1. Slightly South Of Simple was a great read and fun for summer that is for sure! I hope you enjoy it!!

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  24. I enjoyed reading about your reading list - I don't have a reading list, as I just don't have much time to read, but I think if I did, I would be interested in reading Lilac Girls, I read Carla's review of it as well, and thought it sounded like a good read. I hope you continue to enjoy beautiful moments at the beach with lots of relaxing and good book reading :) Hugs!

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    1. I find that I have had less time to read this summer than others, although summer has just started! I hope you have time to relax this summer Marilyn, whatever that means to you!! Have a super afternoon!

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  25. I have not been making time for reading. I need to pick up some of the books on your list.

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    1. I need to make more time for it too, Carol. I have been enjoying my garden a bit more than usual and that means less sitting! Ha!

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  26. I love your book list and I pinned this. I really enjoy reading books in my yard and drinking ice tea and that is why I love summer! Happy reading to you Kim. Hope you have a nice week and weekend.
    Julie xo

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    1. Thanks Julie...and enjoy that ice tea in your yard. It sounds like a delicious way to spend a summer afternoon!

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