Books
17 Of The Best Books Of Summer 2015 To Keep You Reading From The Kickoff BBQ To The Very Last Day Of The Season
Bring on the barbecues. Bring on the beaches. But most importantly, bring on the books. Warm weather is here, and with it comes summer reading season, which means you're carrying in your tote bag multiple juicy reads instead of just your standard one at a time. The temperature is fine, and that means any pretty spot is fair game for a spontaneous sit 'n' read — and you have to be prepared. I feel you, girl.
This list of summer reads will keep you covered with can't-put-'em-down books from when the first veggie patty hits the grill Memorial Day Weekend all the way through your last swim on Labor Day. With release dates from June up through August, these new books are all by women writers you'll love — and grow to love if you don't know them yet — and there will always be a fresh title on top of your TBR pile. So, stop reading this, and start reading these. GO!
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'The Sunlight Night' by Rebecca Dinerstein
Ever wonder what it’s like to live at the very top of the world where the sun never sets for a period of time? Rebecca Dinerstein did, and she wrote a novel about the experience. (Hint: It’s really, really pretty — and kinda bizarre, too.) Get swept away to remote Norway with Dinerstein’s lyrical prose about lovers Frances and Yasha. The sites are picturesque, the love is real, and anything can happen. You’ll just have to read about it to find out what actually does. (Bloomsbury; June 2)
'Saint Mazie' by Jami Attenberg
The Middlesteins author Jami Attenberg has traded writing about the Midwest for Jazz Age New York — and, oh, what a glorious swap it is. If you love historical stories with bold language that vividly paint a picture of another era, you’ll be so happy to spend your summer days alongside Mazie Phillips, the real-life proprietress of a downtown NYC movie theater called The Venice. Take a peek inside Mazie’s diary, and get swept away. (Grand Central; June 2)
'In the Unlikely Event' by Judy Blume
Yes, you read that correctly — Judy Blume has a new adult novel. If you’re still there at your screen reading this, and haven’t already rushed out to your bookstore, you can expect a new classic. That’s just how Blume rolls. She tells the story of a group of people whose lives are changed by an unlikely disaster in the 1950s when several airplanes crashed. Pick up the book to live the crazy time period… and make sure your seat belt is securely fastened. (Knopf; June 2)
'In the Country: Stories' by Mia Alvar
If you want to travel the globe but can’t get the vacation time, Mia Alvar’s collection will help you out. Her evocative stories follow Filipinos going through myriad life experiences in places scattered across the map. This collection is one that’ll really pull at your heartstrings: You’ll flip to the final page feeling as enamored with Alvar’s enchanting voice as you will be surprised that In the Country is her debut. (Knopf; June 16)
'The Star Side of Bird Hill' by Naomi Jackson
Anyone want a trip to Barbados? OK, sorry, I’m not giving one away, but if you pick up the vivid The Star Side of Bird Hill, you’ll swear you’re there. In this coming-of-age story, 16-year-old Dionne and 10-year-old Phaedra are sent from Brooklyn to St. John to stay with their grandmother — and learn a ton about family in the process. If you love character studies and rich culture, you’ve found your novel. (Penguin Press; June 30)
'Among the Ten Thousand Things' by Julia Pierpont
You’ll be floored by Among the Ten Thousand Things — there’s no other way to say it. When marital infidelity splits the Shanleys at the seams, everyone feels the ripple effects, especially the children. Yes, you’ll fall for her precise voice on the first page, but Julia Pierpoint’s deeply intelligent look at family life will resonate to your most protected places. That’s her greatest accomplishment. (Random House; July 7)
'The Small Backs of Children' by Lidia Yuknavitch
If you want a novel that’s going to swallow you alive this summer, turn to Lidia Yuknavitch, whose The Small Backs of Children is the kind of book that goes straight for your heart and your mind. Fearlessly, Yuknavitch takes you to war-torn Eastern Europe to ponder ideas of love, loss, and identity you’ll keep thinking about well after the brief novel is done. This one’s important. (Harper; July 7)
'Go Set a Watchman' by Harper Lee
Are you ready? It seems impossible that another novel by Harper Lee, the famed author of To Kill A Mockingbird , actually exists, let alone is here for us to read — but come summer, you can get your hands on a copy. (It’s been a No. 1 best-seller on pre-order for months already.) With her sequel, Lee picks up where Mockingbird left off 20 years later. No, this ain’t fanfic. This is the real deal. (Harper; July 14)
'Circling the Sun' by Paula McLain
If you’re one of the many (many!) who read and loved Paula McLain’s The Paris Wife , then you’ve been waiting for this new work for a while now. The historical fiction-writer takes on the feminist aviator Beryl Markham’s story, traveling to Kenya and taking to the skies — and the results are beautiful. If you can’t make it to Africa this summer, Circling the Sun is your next best bet. (Ballantine; July 28)
'The Daughters' by Adrienne Celt
Music and motherhood — that’s what you’ll find at the core of The Daughters, yet each element is so original, you’ll swear you’ve never read about either before. This debut by Adrienne Celt reads like a warm, cherished folksong. Celt’s voice, kind of like the opera sensation about whom she writes, is strong and unusual, and the story she tells is affecting. (Norton; Aug 3)
'Barbara the Slut and Other People' by Lauren Holmes
Lauren Holmes wrote the book you always dreamed of writing (and, hey, maybe you still might — it’s a long summer). In her debut collection of short stories, Holmes uses her razor-sharp words and unforgiving lens to write about characters you’ll swear you’ve met before — and she breaks them wide open. Relationships, family, sex, existential Millennial angst: it’s all here, and it’s all so good. (Riverhead; Aug 4)
'Woman With a Secret' by Sophie Hannah
If you’re looking for your next addictive thriller, meet Sophie Hannah and her character Nicki Clements. (Guess what: Nicki has a secret!) Skilled suspense-writer Hannah will sweep you into Nicki’s world — and you won’t want to get out until you’ve reached the very last page. Good luck to anyone trying to pry this one from your hands. (William Morrow; Aug 4)
'Infinite Home' by Kathleen Alcott
If you’re away from where you live and the people you love this summer, your required reading is Infinite Home , which gets at the heart of what the word “home” is about — both in terms of the physical place and the feeling. You’ll read about Brooklyn landlord Edith and her tenants, and what they do when their home is threatened. Prepare to be moved, because this one will reach deep inside of you. (Riverhead; Aug 4)
'The Marriage of Opposites' by Alice Hoffman
You know you’re in great hands with Alice Hoffman, so sit back while she transports you to 19th century St. Thomas to follow the story of Rachel Manzano-Pomié Petit, the mother of famous painter Camille Pissarro. Get ready for a setting to die for, a passionate woman who’ll inspire you to take the rest of the summer by storm, and a love story to get carried away in. Not a bad package. (Simon & Schuster; Aug 4)
'The Beautiful Bureaucrat' by Helen Phillips
If you’ve ever stepped back from your mindless work and wondered, “What, exactly, am I doing here?”, then The Beautiful Bureaucrat needs to be on your reading list. Josephine is entering info into something called The Database — but what is it? And why is everything getting strange all of a sudden? Helen Phillips’ story is slick, and her words are inspired. This certainly won’t be the last you’ll be hearing from her, so pick up her debut before all of your friends. (Henry Holt & Co.; Aug 11)
'Eileen' by Ottessa Moshfegh
We called Ottessa Moshfegh ”The Next Big Thing” for a reason… and that’s because lots of people think she is. Moshfegh’s debut novel proves that the writer’s eerie, raw prose and eye-opening storytelling isn’t fleeting. Set over the course of a single week in December 1964, Eileen tells the story of 24-year-old Eileen Dunlop, who needs to find a way out of her dead-end Boston suburb. The story is psychological and affecting, and you’re going to feel for Eileen, I promise. (Penguin Press; Aug 18)
'You Too Can Have a Body Like Mine' by Alexandra Kleeman
Alexandra Kleeman’s debut novel is brilliant, incisive, and exactly how to send off summer with a bang. Written masterfully, You Too Can Have a Body Like Mine is a biting cultural indictment on what we see, think, do, and eat — especially while being a woman. It’s the tall drink of water we all need… except this one gets poured over our heads to wake us up. (Harper; Aug 25)
