Entertainment
73 New Summer Books To Enjoy On Your Warm-Weather Adventures
Summer is nearly upon us — bringing with it all smells, sounds, tastes, and delicious feelings of vacations spent lounging by the pool, temperate nights spent laughing around a bonfire, and lazy days spent sprawling at the park. No matter how you choose to spend the warm-weather, sunny days ahead, I promise your experience will only be improved by the addition of a good book. They call it summer reading for a reason.
This summer reading list offers up the best new books of summer 2016 — everything from a reimagining of the legend of Vlad of Impaler to a modern day Singapore-based retelling of Emma to a memoir about growing up in Manhattan's Chelsea Hotel. Young adult, adult fiction, memoirs, and more — it's all here for your reading enjoyment. So grab your beach towel and pack up your picnic basket, here are the books to take with you on your summer getaway:
Images: Catherine McMahon/Unsplash
'And I Darken' by Kiersten White (June 28)
Kiersten White invokes the story of Vlad the Impaler, aka Count Dracula, to tell her female-powered, dark, and epic new series opener And I Darken. Imagine instead of Vlad Dracul, the icon was Lada Dragwyla, the ultimate anti-hero. The brutal warrior Lada is a deposed princess, itching for her chance to return to Wallachia and reclaim her throne. But now she's trapped, held hostage, in the Ottoman Empire, and she's willing to commit all nature of atrocities to escape and avenge her captors. The added complication? Her younger brother Radu is kindhearted, and he opposes Lada's motivations. The story spins into questions of family, violence, heritage, and country, and it will completely spin you into another time and place.
— Caitlin White
'A Court Of Mist And Fury' by Sarah J. Maas (May 3)
Sarah J. Maas kicks off your summer right by dropping the second book in her A Court of Thorns and Roses, titled A Court of Mist and Fury, right at the get-go of May. This faeryland Beauty and the Beast is one you can get early for your vacation plans once Memorial Day comes around, but warn your friends ahead of time that the airplane ride is a no-talking zone so you can read.
— Caitlin White
'Highly Illogical Behavior' by John Corey Whaley (May 10)
John Corey Whaley has never disappointed us before, and he carries on that tradition with his funny, heartfelt, and oh-so-JCW-style Highly Illogical Behavior. Ambitious high school student Lisa decides to try to "fix" her agoraphobic classmate Sol as part of her application to an elite psychology program, but instead the two and Lisa's boyfriend Clark form a powerful friendship that hurtles toward a heartbreaking fight.
— Caitlin White
'Every Exquisite Thing' by Matthew Quick (May 31)
The Silver Linings Playbook author Matthew Quick turns to YA in Every Exquisite Thing, an exploration of privilege, rebellion, and self-discovery, told through the lens of high school student Nanette. After her teacher gives her a cult classic novel, Nanette becomes inspired and invigorated by its message, even seeking out and befriending the author. The reliable student-athlete starts to rebel against conforming to other people's standards and she questions the privilege she was born into.
— Caitlin White
'Outrun The Moon' by Stacey Lee (May 24)
Stacey Lee is an incredible voice in historical fiction, but she may have outdone even herself in her recent Outrun the Moon. Set during the San Francisco earthquake in April 1906, the story follows Mercy Wong as she connives her way out of her impoverished community to attend an elite school. Eventually, it's Mercy who has to use those same skills to help herself and her peers survive when disaster strikes.
— Caitlin White
'My Lady Jane' by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows (June 7)
If you're a fan of The Princess Bride, you're going to be absolutely enthralled by My Lady Jane. Penned by three BFF female writers, My Lady Jane uses the same spark and spirit, wit and LOL hilarity to tell a historical fantasy tale. The basis is a fantastical re-imagining of 16-year-old Lady Jane Grey's nine short days as queen, after King Edward VI and "Bloody" Mary I, of England and Ireland. There's arranged marriage and affairs of the court mashed up with shapeshifters and modern-day pop culture references. This isn't your mother's historical novel.
— Caitlin White
'The Cresswell Plot' by Eliza Wass (June 7)
Castley Creswell and her siblings Hannan, Caspar, Mortimer, Delvive, and Jerusalem have grown up in a cult-like atmosphere, deep in the woods of upstate New York, under the control of their father who believes he receives messages from God. But when Castley is partnered up with classmate George Gray for a school project, he opens up a world beyond her home and her strict father. But while she works to devise a plan to help herself and her siblings escape their father, Mr. Creswell pronounces that it's time for them all to return to heaven. It's a debut novel you definitely don't want to miss, and you'll be captivated by its dark, rich world.
— Caitlin White
'True Letters From A Fictional Life' by Kenneth Logan (June 7)
On the surface, James Liddell's life is picture perfect: he's a good student and a star athlete and he has his pretty, preppy girlfriend Teresa on his arm. But in secret, James spills his real life story into his letters, which he never intends to send. It's in those letters that he reveals that he's gay. However, meeting a new boy Topher helps him slowly, delicately come out, but he's forced out of the closet when someone steals his letters and mails them to all his family and friends. Kenneth Logan's story is part-coming-out tale, part-mystery story, and all-together wonderful.
— Caitlin White
'Look Both Ways' by Alison Cherry (June 14)
It's family tradition that Brooklyn Shepard become a star performer, and she finally gets her big break when she earns an apprenticeship at the prestigious Allerdale Playhouse. But can she ever outrun the shadow her famed actress mother casts over her? While at Allerdale, Brooklyn struggles to find her place in theater, but she does find an unexpected relationship with her roommate Zoe. As their friendship evolves into a romantic relationship, Brooklyn opens her mind to new possibilities, finding self-discovery in all aspects of her life, and readers will be completely captivated as the story shows so much hope and optimism for a potential future. Bonus: Theater kids are going to be hooked on the Allerdale setting and characters.
— Caitlin White
'Learning To Swear In America' by Katie Kennedy (July 5)
It's the end of the world, and the fate of the planet lies in the hands of 17-year-old physicist prodigy Yuri, brought from Russia to help NASA deflect an asteroid (as we thought only Ben Affleck and Bruce Willis could). But this isn't some somber apocalypse story; Katie Kennedy's novel is funny and bright, and you'll love to watch as Yuri meets "regular" teenager Dovie and finds an actual reason beyond scientific discovery to save the world.
— Caitlin White
Gemini by Sonya Mukherjee (July 26)
Teenage sisters Clara and Hailey are conjoined twins, but don't mistake that for meaning they're the same person. Clara is content with her sheltered life, far from too many prying eyes in their small town. But Hailey longs to experience the world and all the art and beauty it contains. So with high school graduation on the horizon, the twins have to come to terms with what they want out of life, and what they may have to sacrifice. It's a brilliant coming of age story, told in alternating perspectives from each of the sisters.
— Caitlin White
'Enter Title Here' by Rahul Kanakia (August 2)
Reshma Kapoor has a bit of Election's Tracy Flick in her: She's willing to do anything to become her school's valedictorian. It's not that she's not worthy of it — she's a killer student with a spotless record and participates in essentially every extracurricular she can — but sometimes her ruthlessness is suspect. She sues her elite school for changing it's grading policy and then writes an HuffPo op-ed about it. This piece earns the attention of a literary agent who wants to take on Reshma, who lies and says she has a YA novel in the works. The problem is Reshma doesn't have any actual "young adult" life experiences to speak of. She's never dated, doesn't have any friends, and spends her time at school. So Reshma begins a crusade to get that experience — using dubious methods.
— Caitlin White
'Girls On Fire' by Robin Wasserman (May 17)
In the wake of a suicide at their school, two teenagers — "good girl" Hannah and "bad girl" Lacey — form an unlikely friendship fueled by passionate rebellion. They become steadily obsessed with each other... and their secrets could spell more chaos than they possibly imagined.
— Melissa Ragsdale
'LaRose' by Louise Erdrich (May 10)
Legendary Pulitzer-prize-winning author Louise Erdrich has delivered a beautiful new book for us to sink into this summer. Set on an American Indian reservation in North Dakota, this book begins when a man accidentally shoots his neighbor's child and gives them his own son in exchange for the accident.
— Melissa Ragsdale
'The Bricks That Built The Houses' by Kate Tempest (May 3)
Poet and rapper Kate Tempset will sweep you up in this story of Londoners Becky, Harry and Leon as they flee their lifelong home with a suitcase full of stolen money.
— Melissa Ragsdale
'The Assistants' by Camille Perri (May 3)
When Tina, the personal assistant to a media mogul, accidentally steals company money to pay off her student loan debt, the situation snowballs into a massive conspiracy among the assistants. With heaping helpings of romance, friendship, and revenge fantasy, this is one you'll tear through in a weekend. (And be sure to catch Bustle's interview with Camille Perri!)
— Melissa Ragsdale
'Homegoing' by Yaa Gyasi (June 7)
This is one of the most anticipated books of the summer — for good reason. Spanning from 18th century Ghana to 21st Harlem, Homegoing follows the divergent paths of two half-sisters and their descendants. Effia is married off to an Englishman and given all the privileged comforts of royalty. Esi is imprisoned and shipped off to America to become a slave. As their stories weave in and out of each other, you'll be absolutely blown away.
— Melissa Ragsdale
'Vinegar Girl' by Anne Tyler (June 21)
Shakespeare nerds, holla! Beloved author Anne Tyler's modern retelling of The Taming of the Shrew has everyone buzzing. This book is part of The Hogarth Shakespeare Project, which has been churning out one fantastic book after another, including the recent The Gap of Time by Jeannette Winterson (an adaptation of A Winter's Tale) and Shylock is My Name by Howard Jacobson (an adaptation of The Merchant of Venice).
— Melissa Ragsdale
'The Girls' by Emma Cline (June 14)
Reading this book is the cool thing to do this summer. Set in Northern California in the '60s, this book follows Evie as she falls in with a group of older girls. When she suddenly finds herself in a spinning world of cults and danger, Evie is pushed towards a previously unthinkable act of violence.
— Melissa Ragsdale
'Barkskins' by Annie Proulx (June 14)
Brokeback Mountain author Annie Proulx is delivering this masterpiece of a novel this June. The book begins when indentured servants René Sel and Charles Duquet arrive in New France to be woodcutters, or "barkskins." The story hurtles forward through the lives of René, Charles, and their descendants as they travel across North America, Europe, China, and New Zealand, eventually landing in modern times, where humanity is on the brink of ecological disaster.
— Melissa Ragsdale
'Rich and Pretty' by Rumaan Alam (June 7)
'Set in NYC, this is the story of two life-long best friends who are struggling to navigate their roles in their new adult lives. A resounding story about the demands of friendship, this book and these characters will dazzle you. Every woman will be able to relate.
— Melissa Ragsdale
'Lily and the Octopus' by Steven Rowley (June 7)
Get ready for all the feels. Ted's love life is dried up, and he spends his nights gossiping about movie stars and playing Monopoly with his dachshund/best friend, Lily. But when an octopus/tumor takes hold of Lily, what unfolds is the sweetest story you've ever read about companionship and love.
— Melissa Ragsdale
'A Hundred Thousand Worlds' by Bob Proehl
Following a cast of characters as they each make their own way across the country to attend comic-cons, this book is the ultimate road trip read. Whether you're geeking out about all the references or simply falling in love with these characters lives, this book has all the weirdness and heart of a good con.
— Melissa Ragsdale
'Losing It' by Emma Rathbone
Julia is 26 years old, a virgin, and feeling absolutely stuck. So she decides to do something about it, uprooting her life to move in with her eccentric aunt Vivienne in North Carolina, where she plans to finally lose her virginity. But when Julia discovers that her aunt is still a virgin at age 58, it all becomes far more complicated for her. Rathbone approaches the idea of virginity with a keen nuance and flavor that will completely engage any reader.
— Melissa Ragsdale
'Here Comes The Sun' by Nicole Dennis-Benn
Nicole Dennis-Benn has delivered a really special read with this one. Set in Montego Bay, Jamaica, this book follows Margot, a young woman determined to protect her younger sister, Thandi, from a world in which sexuality must be traded for survival. But when a new hotel opens in their village, Margot sees an opportunity for independence — and perhaps a chance to finally admit her forbidden love for another woman.
— Melissa Ragsdale
'You Will Know Me' by Megan Abbott (July 26)
When a violent death strikes in the heart of her daughter's gymnastics community, Katie Knox must fight to hold her family together, all the while being drawn to crime itself. This is the roller coaster ride you've been waiting for.
— Melissa Ragsdale
'Absalom's Daughters' by Suzanne Feldman (July 5)
This sparkling book combines magic and identity in breathtaking ways. This read follows two half-sisters, one black and white, as they drive through the American Deep South during the era of Jim Crow.
— Melissa Ragsdale
'Another Brooklyn' by Jacqueline Woodson (August 9)
You probably know Jacqueline Woodson from her National Book Award winning-book Brown Girl Dreaming. This story follows August as she grows up in 1970s Brooklyn, a time and place filled with danger and discovery for a young black girl. Woodson's story brilliantly explores girlhood, womanhood, daughterhood, and neighborhood.
— Melissa Ragsdale
'Behold the Dreamers' by Imbolo Mbue (August 23)
This debut novel is the story of Jende Jonga, who immigrated to NYC from Cameroon in 2007 with his wife and daughter. Jende lands a job as a chauffeur to a senior executive at Lehman Brothers, giving him a look into the glitzy world of Wall Street privilege. But as the story hurtles towards the 2008 recession, Jende watches as the exteriors of his employers crack and crumble, revealing the dark secrets underneath.
— Melissa Ragsdale
All The Ugly And Wonderful Things by Bryn Greenwood (August 9)
If you're looking for a dangerous, shocking, and unexpectedly touching story, this is it. Eight-year-old Wavy is the daughter of a meth dealer. When one of her father's thugs, Kellan, crashes his motorcycle and she helps him, a deep relationship blooms between them. This is a book that will shake you to the core.
— Melissa Ragsdale
When Watched by Leopoldine Core
Leopoldine Core is the author that's turning everybody's heads. These 20 stories set in NYC form an unforgettable work about sexuality, identity, and gender.
— Melissa Ragsdale
'Keep You Close' by Lucy Whitehouse (May 3)
When Rowan's estranged childhood best friend, Marianne Glass, falls to her death, Rowan is the only one who suspects the death wasn't accidental. When she launches an investigation of her own, she uncovers a trove of dark secrets hidden beneath the glamour of Marianne's life.
— Melissa Ragsdale
'Sober Stick Figures' by Amber Tozer (May 31)
Amber Tozer documents her complicated relationship with alcohol in Sober Stick Figure. The memoir brings us along on her journey — from her first drink as a child to her descent into alcoholism to her ongoing sobriety today — with the help of stick figure illustrations. Naturally, the stand-up comedian uses humor along the way, while still deftly handling a tough subject.
— Stephanie Topacio Long
'I Do It With The Lights On' by Whitney Way Thore (May 31)
The star of TLC’s My Big Fat Fabulous Life reveals herself in a new way in I Do It with the Lights On: And 10 More Discoveries on the Road to a Blissfully Shame-Free Life. Thore opens up about her own difficult yet gratifying path to self-acceptance, plus candidly tackles everything from eating disorders to harassment. Her work is stirring and serves as yet another step in her fight to end body shame.
— Stephanie Topacio Long
'Being Jazz' by Jazz Jennings (June 7)
With transgender issues in the national spotlight, Jazz Jennings’ book comes at the perfect time. In Being Jazz: My Life as a (Transgender) Teen, the young activist gives readers an intimate look at her experience and the struggles that have come with it. As she shares her inspiring story, Jennings challenges us to accept others’ differences.
— Stephanie Topacio Long
'This Is Not My Beautiful Life' by Victoria Fedden (June 7)
Described as a “real-life Arrested Development,” Victoria Fedden’s This Is Not My Beautiful Life centers on the circumstances that led to her parents being sent to prison and the difficult aftermath. To make matters worse, she was living with them at the time and pregnant. In spite of the unfortunate situation, though, the story manages to be both poignant and funny.
— Stephanie Topacio Long
'All Strangers Are Kin' by Zora O'Neill (June 14)
Zora O’Neill brings readers to North Africa and the Middle East in All Strangers Are Kin: Adventures in Arabic and the Arab World. As she explores local Arabic cultures, she also highlights the often humorous trials and tribulations of learning the difficult language. Along the way, her writing brings to life dynamic settings and captivating people.
— Stephanie Topacio Long
'Love Wins' by Debbie Cenziper and Jim Obergefell (June 14)
The Supreme Court’s same-sex marriage ruling inspired an upcoming movie, but in the meantime, it’s the subject of Love Wins: The Lovers and Lawyers Who Fought the Landmark Case for Marriage Equality. Written by Debbie Cenziper with lead plaintiff Jim Obergefell, the book centers on the landmark case and the love story at the heart of it. Not surprisingly, Love Wins is as touching as it is informative.
— Stephanie Topacio Long
'I'm Just A Person' by Tig Notaro (June 14)
Comedian Tig Notaro takes pain and successfully converts it into laughs in I’m Just a Person. The book looks back at a short time period in which she suffered a breakup, a debilitating disease, a cancer diagnosis, and the death of her mother. It’s an intriguing and inspiring look at one woman’s way of pressing on.
— Stephanie Topacio Long
'Face Value' by Autumn Whitefield-Madrano (June 21)
Women’s beauty is put under the microscope in Face Value: The Hidden Ways Beauty Shapes Women's Lives. Autumn Whitefield-Madrano explores how our looks affect our lives, including in light of today’s technology. Her work weaves together real-life anecdotes and in-depth research, creating an interesting cultural analysis.
— Stephanie Topacio Long
'Bukowski in a Sundress' by Kim Addonizio (June 21)
Author Kim Addonizio opens up about the ups and downs of being a writer in Bukowski in a Sundress: Confessions from a Writing Life. She meanders through a variety of topics, from writing in bed (I've been there) to the time her daughter found erotica she had published. It’s an emotional ride, full of honesty and humor.
— Stephanie Topacio Long
'The Nordic Theory Of Everything' by Anu Partanen (June 28)
Anu Partanen compares life in America to that of her native Finland in The Nordic Theory of Everything: In Search of a Better Life. The book lays out numerous ways life in her new home country could benefit from a little Nordic influence, in spite of what many Americans may believe. Partanen builds a strong case as she looks at everything from filing taxes to education.
— Stephanie Topacio Long
'Seinfeldia' by Jennifer Keishin Armstrong (July 5)
Seinfeld fans and non-fans alike will be fascinated by Jennifer Keishin Armstrong’s look at the TV series. In Seinfeldia: How a Show About Nothing Changed Everything, she dives into the history of the show and takes readers along for the ride. In addition to sharing intriguing stories about what went on behind the scenes, the book discusses ways Seinfeld has altered television.
— Stephanie Topacio Long
'Welcome To The Goddamn Ice Cube' by Blaire Braverman (July 5)
Blair Braverman’s adventures in the Norway and Alaska are the focus of Welcome to the Goddamn Ice Cube: Chasing Fear and Finding Home in the Great White North. Her unique story has everything from corrupt police to dogsled teams, plus physical and mental challenges. It’s an intense journey, but there are lighthearted moments as well.
— Stephanie Topacio Long
'You'll Grow Out Of It' by Jessi Klein (July 12)
Going from girl to woman isn’t easy for anyone, but Jessi Klein celebrates her awkward transition in You’ll Grow Out of It. Her experiences run the gamut from hilarious to humiliating, making them relatable to many of us.
— Stephanie Topacio Long
'Trying to Float' by Nicolaia Rips (July 12)
Nicolaia Rips’ Trying to Float: Coming of Age in the Chelsea Hotel focuses on her childhood in Manhattan. Her unconventional home life and outsider status make for intriguing stories, and the city provides a vibrant backdrop. The book also features a colorful cast of characters who play a role as she finds her place.
— Stephanie Topacio Long
'La Americana' by Melanie Bowden Simón (July 19)
A vacation turns into a love story in Melanie Bowden Simón’s La Americana. The memoir follows as she meets her future husband in Cuba and contends with subsequent relationship obstacles. Her emotional journey also involves dealing with her mother’s death and adapting to a new culture.
— Stephanie Topacio Long
'The Age of Bowie' by Paul Morley (July 26)
Paul Morley honors a music icon in The Age of Bowie: How David Bowie Made a World of Difference. Fans get to follow Bowie from his South London beginnings to international stardom, right up until the very end. Along with highlighting key moments from the British musician’s career, Morley explores his lasting impact on various facets of the industry.
— Stephanie Topacio Long
'The Fire This Time' by Jesmyn Ward (August 2)
Inspired by writing from James Baldwin in the 1960s, Jesmyn Ward’s The Fire This Time: A New Generation Speaks about Race is a collection of short essays, memoir, and poems. The work digs into race in America with the help of a large group of contributors. As such, it offers various perspectives as it looks at our current situation and toward the future.
— Stephanie Topacio Long
'Land of Enchantment' by Leigh Stein (August 2)
A coming-of-age memoir, Land of Enchantment centers on author Leigh Stein’s relationship with an ex-boyfriend as she comes to terms with his death. His worrisome behavior before he was killed adds another layer to her poignant coping process.
— Stephanie Topacio Long
'Black Lotus' by Sil Lai Abrams (August 2)
The importance of race comes into question in Black Lotus: A Woman’s Search for Racial Identity. Author Sil Lai Abrams takes on the complicated issue as she tells the story of discovering the truth about her biological father. Her journey is both unique and fascinating.
— Stephanie Topacio Long
'The Girl With The Lower Back Tattoo' by Amy Schumer (August 16)
Amy Schumer’s trademark satirical comedy comes to fans in book form with The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo. The comedian opens up about her personal life in a collection of essays that includes stories from her youth, her love life, and more. It’s safe to say that if you’re a Schumer fan, you should add this to your reading list immediately.
— Stephanie Topacio Long
'You Know Me Well' by David Levithan and Nina LaCour (June 7)
Two powerful forces in YA lit team up to tell one unique story in You Know Me Well. David Levithan and Nina LaCour each take a voice in this story about the heartbreaking nature of first love, told in alternating perspectives. Star athlete Mark is in love with his closeted best bud Ryan. Kate has been in love with Violet from afar. During San Francisco's Pride celebrations, both Mark and Kate's romantic dreams are dashed, and the two instead team up to spend a magical, open night together.
— Caitlin White
'This Savage Song' by Victoria Schwab (June 7)
You fell in love with Victoria under her pseudonym V.E. Schwab and her series beginning with A Darker Shade of Magic, and she's back with another magical story, albeit something totally new and unique. The first of two books, This Savage Song is set in the future V-City, which has been torn apart by the “Phenomenon," when acts of violence manifested into physical monsters. Two teenagers, August and Kate, are leaders on opposing sides of the schism, but they must band together and form an alliance when a rebellion threatens them both.
— Caitlin White
'Mirror in the Sky' by Aditi Khorana (June 21)
There has been a game-changing new scientific discovery in Aditi Khorana's Mirror in the Sky: There exists a mirror planet called Terra Nova, with people living a mirror life to those on Earth. This discovery seems to alter life on Earth, too. When Tara Krishnan realizes that there is another Tara Krishnan out there in the universe, possibly living a life bigger and brighter than her own, her whole perspective changes and she has to decide how she wants to navigate her own life down on Earth. Khorana's mix of character and plot with scientific and philosophical questions makes for beautiful storytelling.
— Caitlin White
'Run' by Kody Keplinger (June 28)
The DUFF's Kody Keplinger is back with Run, a story of two completely opposite best friends who go on the run together. Everyone knows that Bo comes from a bad family — a meth-addicted mom, an absentee dad, and Bo's own reputation for being a wild child. Which is why it's surprising that her true best friend, the friends that would lie down in traffic for each other is Agnes Atwood, who follows the rules, is always home by curfew, and is legally blind. So when Bo shows up at Agnes' house in the middle of the night, followed by police sirens in the distance, it's a no-brainer that Agnes will follow her on the run. The powerful friendship is what sings in Keplinger's novel, even as secrets start emerging.
— Caitlin White
'Mirage' by Tracy Clark (July 5)
She spends her summers at her parents Mojave Desert skydiving center, so naturally Ryan Poitier Sharpe is an adrenaline junkie. She's always looking for the next thrill — until she has a scary, near-death experience while doing drugs. Now, Ryan has lost that part of herself, and readers, too, are plunged into a thrilling story, wondering if Ryan is devolving into psychosis or if something else is happening entirely.
— Caitlin White
'Harry Potter And The Cursed Child' by J.K. Rowling (July 31)
The day after the play opens at the Palace Theatre in London, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child book-version is finally released to the world. In case you've managed to avoid Potterhead hysteria since it was announced, Cursed Child will take place in the Harry Potter universe future, following Harry's son Albus Severus and Harry himself as a member of the Ministry of Magic. Go ahead, let out all the squees.
— Caitlin White
'The Smaller Evil' by Stephanie Kuehn (August 2)
Arman makes a choice to attend a remote self-help retreat when his anxiety and self-loathing becomes too much to handle, and it seems like a positive step. But the retreat leader Beau has some... odd tactics. Is this self-help camp a cult? Things are already mysterious when Beau goes missing, and Arman has to fight through his own mental illness to try to remember piece together the puzzle to find out what really happened. This hazy mystery is bolstered by Stephanie Kuehn's raw and heartfelt depiction of mental illness.
— Caitlin White
'Girl In Pieces' by Kathleen Glasgow (August 30)
Fair warning: Girl in Pieces isn't an easy read, but that's probably because it's so raw and honest in its depiction of self-harm. Charlotte "Charlie" Davis hasn't had an easy life: her father committed suicide, her abusive mother kicked her out, her best friend nearly died after cutting herself too deep, and she survived her own suicide attempt. But Charlie is able to find comfort and control in cutting, using broken glass. Written in the style of journal entries, Kathleen Glasgow brings you into Charlie's mind for readers to learn and understand and follow the story in her words.
— Caitlin White
'Furthermore' by Tahereh Mafi (August 30)
OK, fine, Furthermore is more middle grade than YA, but with a story this enchanting does it really matter? Like another literary Alice, Alice Alexis Queensmeadow goes on a grand, colorful, oddball adventure, this time in search of her father who disappeared. Alice herself has always been a bit of a black sheep, blessed with almost zero magical powers and born all white in a world bursting of color. Now she has use only who she is and what she has to embark on her quest into Futhermore and bring her father back.
— Caitlin White
'A Torch Against The Night' by Sabaa Tahir (August 30)
I'm typing this while I'm jumping up and down because my favorite YA book of 2015 is finally getting its sequel! A Torch Against the Night follows up Sabaa Tahir's gritty fantasy An Ember in the Ashes, and we pick up with Elias and Laia journeying to rescue Laia's brother from the Kauf Prison with the Empire's soldiers hot on their tails. And, yes, Helene is back as well, now under the control of the new ruler Marcus. Expect even more exploration of Tahir's beautifully drawn world, and of course, action and intrigue. And that's all I'm going to say because I know you're desperate to read it yourself!
— Caitlin White
'Sex Object' by Jessica Valenti
Jessica Valenti scrutinizes feminist issues while discussing her own life in her memoir, Sex Object. While often comical, her work deals with painful topics as well. Her memories are relatable and raise important questions about how society treats and views women.
— Stephanie Topacio Long
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'The Fireman' by Joe Hill
A disease called Dragonscale is sweeping across the planet, causing people to spontaneously combust. When a nurse, Harper, discovers that she is pregnant and she has Dragonscale, she begins an epic fight for her life. Mixed up in all of this is an enigmatic man known as The Fireman, who, among his many mysteries, has the ability to control fire.
— Melissa Ragsdale
'The Weekenders' by Mary Kay Andrews
This book has all the makings of a beach read. Set on Belle Isle, North Carolina, this is the story of what happens when a woman's husband disappears during the summer season. The perfect blend of drama, humor, intrigue, and just a touch of murder.
— Melissa Ragsdale
'Sweetbitter' by Stephanie Danler (May 24)
Tess, a 20-something woman with plenty of spunk, moves to New York and enters the food service industry as a waitress. As she finds herself drawn to two of her fellow servers — a handsome bartender and an older woman whom she sees as a mentor — she also develops an infectious appetite for life that will rub off on every reader.
— Melissa Ragsdale
'The Last Continent' by Midge Raymond (June 21)
You've heard of people who will go for the ends of the earth for love? Well, the romance in this debut literally takes place at the end of the earth: Antartica. Deb and Keller spend weeks together working the travel and research season on the earth's most remote continent. But one year, Keller doesn't appear. When there's news of a ship in trouble, Deb must fight to save Keller.
— Melissa Ragsdale
'I Almost Forgot About You' by Terry McMillan (June 7)
Summer is a time to shake things up, and that's exactly what Dr. Georgia Young does in this great new read from the acclaimed Terry McMillan. When restless Georgia makes some major changes in her life, she finds herself on the verge of discovering herself and discovering a new love.
— Melissa Ragsdale
'End Of Watch' by Stephen King (June 7)
A new Stephen King book just in time for summer? Could there be any better news? This is the third book in the Bill Hodges Trilogy, and it's sure to take you for a wild ride. Brady Hartsfield, perpetrator of the Mercedes Massacre, has awoken from his vegetative state... and he has some deadly new powers.
— Melissa Ragsdale
'How to Set a Fire and Why' by Jesse Ball (July 5)
Teenager Lucia's father is dead, her mother is in a mental institution, and her life seems to have fallen of the tracks. She sticks to one rule, through it all: don't do things you aren't proud of. But when she discovers her school's Arson Club, Lucia is fascinated — and soon, her rule flies out the window.
— Melissa Ragsdale
'Jonathan Unleashed' by Meg Rosoff (July 5)
If you love dogs (and I certainly do), you'll absolutely fall for this delightful read from National Book Award finalist and Printz Award winner Meg Rosoff. This is the story of a New Yorker who feels stuck and helpless, and the two dogs that inspire him to lead a different life.
— Melissa Ragsdale
'The Woman in Cabin 10' by Ruth Ware (June 19)
Fans of Agatha Christie-style mysteries will revel in this suspenseful read. Travel writer Lo Blacklock is on assignment on a small, luxury cruise. But when Lo sees a woman thrown overboard, the delights of paradise become dark and dangerous. The most terrifying part: all of the ship's passengers are accounted for. So who could that woman possibly be?
— Melissa Ragsdale
'Sarong Party Girls' by Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan (July 12)
This is a retelling of Jane Austen's Emma set in the glitzy, glamorous world of modern-day Singapore. The story of a group of girls determined to lock down rich, Western husbands, this book is filled with riches large and small for every reader.
— Melissa Ragsdale
