I’m coming to you with one thing just a little totally different from my Race Issues column: summer season studying suggestions! I’ve been a guide editor for greater than 20 years; and studying is not only my profession, it’s my ardour. This summer season is full of stellar books, which is nice for readers but in addition presents a problem: methods to know what to choose up. In the event you want some guide concepts in your seashore bag, porch hold, or highway journey, I’ve narrowed down an inventory of eight that has one thing for everybody…
It’s A Love Story by Annabel Monaghan. In the event you’re already a fan of Annabel’s books (Similar Time Subsequent 12 months, Nora Goes Off Script, Summer season Romance), then you realize she creates essentially the most endearing, relatable characters which you can’t assist rooting for. Her latest heroine, Jane Jackson, is a former baby star making an attempt to survive her previous as a “wacky” sitcom character. She has her sights set on making a characteristic movie from a rom-com script she’s fallen exhausting for. To entice her boss to greenlight the challenge, she guarantees that her outdated pal, mega pop star Jack Quinlan, will write an unique tune for the film. The issue? Jack isn’t actually a pal, extra like somebody who broke Jane’s coronary heart years earlier than. To trace Jack down, she’ll want the assistance of the final particular person she desires to show to, her co-worker Dan. He simply could assist with the damaged coronary heart factor, too. This novel goes down like a glass of chilly lemonade on a scorching day — straightforward, effervescent, totally satisfying.
King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby. In the event you’re into audio books, I extremely suggest listening to this novel – the narrator Adam Lazarre-White has such a clean baritone, I’d take heed to him learn a toaster handbook. King of Ashes doesn’t scream mild seashore learn (there’s a gritty edge to Cosby’s work, plus a couple of useless our bodies) however you’ll by no means learn tales about gangsters, crime, and hazard with richer characters and a stronger emotional core. A stand-out characteristic of Cosby’s work is his settings — evocative Southern backwaters the place the language is colourful, the humidity thick, and the bugs loud. Roman, our hero, returns house to rural Virginia to reckon with some high-stakes drama — a father within the hospital who’s unable to run the household’s crematorium, a sister haunted by their mom’s mysterious disappearance, and a brother tangled within the native felony underworld. The plot races alongside, however past the heart-pounding twists, the novel is a robust reminder of how a lot we are going to threat to guard these we love.
Environment by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I’m past blown away by Taylor’s vary — she’s written over a dozen novels that discover totally different worlds, from aggressive tennis to Outdated Hollywood. All of which has made her a “publishing powerhouse,” as Time journal stated in a latest profile. Now she’s taking readers to… house. Set within the Eighties, this novel follows two ladies in NASA’s second class of feminine astronauts who should navigate the aggressive, sexist and exhilarating world of house journey as true pioneers in lots of senses. Hidden romance, new frontiers, and pulse-pounding journey? Verify. Verify. Verify. Suppose: Prime Gun, Hidden Figures and For All Mankind vibes. Considered one of my favourite reads of 2025.
The Names by Florence Knapp. Random truth about me: my dad and mom deliberate to call me Stephanie throughout my mom’s whole being pregnant; then after I was born they made a final minute change to Christine. Generally I’m wondering, would my life have unfolded in another way if I had been “Stephanie”? That’s the premise of this novel. The Names contains three totally different narratives – Sliding Doorways type – that observe the life path of Cora’s son, if he got three totally different names. Names are solely a part of the legacy we give our youngsters, and Cora reckons with all she’s passing to her son – the resilience and the trauma.
Grand Paloma Resort by Cleyvis Natera. There was sure to be a White Lotus comparability on this checklist, and that is it! This novel explores class and tourism at a high-end resort within the Dominican Republic, and the page-turning plot hits the spot. I like a narrative about sisters, and right here, dutiful older sister, Laura, realizes her wayward sister, Elena, is in serious trouble, the form of hassle that would price Laura her dream promotion and the escape the orphaned sisters have dreamed of. The explorations of household, wealth and striving are as wealthy because the folks at this five-star resort. Coming, August twelfth.
Everybody Is Mendacity To You by Jo Piazza. You’d must be dwelling beneath a rock to not have heard in regards to the tradwife phenomenon. Journalist Jo Piazza (who additionally occurs to be my writing accomplice) now brings us the quintessential tradwife novel. It’s an exciting, fast-paced thriller — come for the plot twists, keep for the commentary about social media. The novel expertly captures all the sentiments now we have as we scroll by way of our feeds at 3 a.m. Coming July fifteenth.
What Sort of Paradise by Janelle Brown might be the older cousin of Jo’s guide. For all our love/hate of social media, this story takes us again to the eve of the web in Silicon Valley. Our protagonist, Jane, grows up in a rural Montana cabin together with her devoted however maniacal father, who’s vulnerable to diatribes in regards to the ills of civilization. Jane turns into disillusioned together with her father’s world view, with a nagging sense that one thing is amiss with him and what he’s instructed her about their previous. Ultimately, she builds as much as make a panoramic escape, although not earlier than being ensnared in an incident that may have life-long penalties. Her path takes her to San Francisco within the Nineties on the eve of the dotcom increase when the web promised to be an ideal utopia. As quickly as I completed the guide, I wrote Janelle a gushing private observe. I used to be utterly smitten with the voice and couldn’t put this one down.
And, after all, I’ve to incorporate my very own. All The Males I’ve Cherished Once more, my solo debut, got here out final week and is very beach-friendly. It’s a narrative a few lady, Cora, who falls in love with two males in her twenties, and the similar two males once more as she’s about to show 40. A wild premise ripped from my very own life. It’s a enjoyable, heartfelt, steamy coming-of-age story, heavy on nostalgia and a ‘90s music playlist. I’ll mail a signed guide plate to any Cup of Jo reader who asks for one.
What books are on the high of your checklist this summer season? Authors additionally adore it when readers come to occasions. So, try the tour information for these novels, placed on a cute summer season costume, and go make a pal.
P.S. 5 horny books we love, three favourite books of all time, and what’s essentially the most lovely factor you’ve ever learn?
(Picture by Dana Saparova/Stocksy.)
