Once the craziness of finals ends, the sweet feeling of summertime is right around the corner. Whether you're heading to the beach or waiting to reel in that big catch you've been waiting for, it's always a good idea to pick up a new book while you're soaking in the summer sun. Here is a list of the top 10 books you should be checking out this summer!
1. "So Close" by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus
This novel revolves around Amanda Beth Luker - a woman who has spent her whole life in a trailer park in Florida. This all changes when successful lawyer, Tom Davis shows up. Amanda and Davis end up in Washington DC when he becomes a senator, however, her loyalty is tested and her morals are taken into consideration when she becomes fully invested in the corrupt world of politics. McLaughlin and Kraus are the authors of The Nanny Diaries. This is a great read, especially during this time of the U.S. Presidential Election.
2. "The Choices We Make" by Karma Brown
Hannah and Kate have been close friends since fifth grade. Now as adults, they are each trying to create their own families and lives, although, there are complications. Kate has always been there for Hannah, and now she steps in to help her out as a surrogate when Hannah learns that she is unable to have children. Not only that, but she offers her own eggs. This is a novel of hope, tragedy, the power of friendship, and bravery. Warning: you will cry.
3. "The Memory of Us" by Camille Di Maio
Set in the 1940's, Julianne Westcott was a young Protestant woman living a luxurious life of old money in Liverpool that one could only dream of having. From silk ball gowns to men tripping over her, you could say she was the life of the part...until she learns of a blind and deaf brother she has. She meets Kyle McCarthy, a Catholic groundsman studying to become a priest. Will she stick to the beliefs she was brought up on, or let love lead the way?
4. "Hidden Bodies" by Caroline Kepnes
Joe Goldberg has hidden four bodies in the last ten years, and is now ready to move to Los Angeles to begin anew. However, sometimes things that are hidden do not always stay that way forever. Goldberg fights to start over, but his past life is dug up and catching up with him in this suspense-thriller. Even Stephen King has praised this book, calling it "hypnotic and scary." If even Stephen King can get scared, that means you're in for a great read.
5. "Pretty Is" by Maggie Mitchell
If you're looking for something to leave you on the edge of your seat, this is the book for you. The story begins with the abduction of two young girls - one a spelling bee champion, the other a beauty queen. A man keeps them prisoner in a cabin for two months. Many years later, the two girls have been able to move forward beyond their childhood nightmares, but when one, who is now an actress, is given a script for a movie eerily similar to her past, she has a difficult time keeping her childhood trauma buried in the past.
6. "Mastermind" by Maria Konnikova
This nonfiction book focuses on Gladwellian's approach to Sherlock Holmes. Konnikova discusses how the most famous fictional detective, Sherlock Holmes, is incredibly psychologically important. This book is part how-to manual and literary genius. You will really enjoy this is you have an interest in 'Sherlock,' 'Elementary,' or the Robert Downy Jr. roles of Holmes.
7. "If You Find This Letter" by Hannah Brencher
A personal favorite, "If You Find This Letter" is Assumption College graduate, Hannah Brencher's heartwarming memoir on finding her purpose through hundreds of letters to strangers by letting them know that they are not alone in the world. Newly out of college, Brencher moved to New York and found herself surrounded by people who knew where they were going and what they were doing with their life and didn't have time for a girl who was still trying to figure it all out while, also, wanting to change the world. Lonely and depressed, she noticed a woman on the subway who felt the same way.
Bencher wrote this woman a letter and scribbled - "if you find this letter, it's for you..." When she realized it made her feel better, Brencher began writing letters and leaving notes all over the city from doctor's offices to coat pockets, library books, and even bathroom stalls. She poured her heart out to strangers who only seemed focus on the screens in front of them. She believes there is something personal and warming when receiving a handwritten note in today's digital scene. Bencher attempts to bring more love into the world and talks about how she rediscovered her faith through the movement she started.
8. "The Girl on the Train" by Paula Hawkins
If you loved "Gone Girl," this is your next step. Rachel is a mess. She is jobless, depressed, and an alcoholic, however, this is one positive aspect in her life - she spies on a couple she sees every day from the window of her train. When the woman in this couple disappears, Rachel takes charge and makes it a point to find out what happened to this missing woman. This page turner will have you on the edge of your seat until the shocking ending.
From romance to thriller to heartfelt memoirs the options for beach reads are endless. Pick up a copy of your favorite book, grab some iced tea, and spend you summer days relaxing in the sun. Happy reading!
