10 Books for Summer; Or I Love a Good Beach Read

Happy May Day! When I was little girl, the first day of May meant running into the backyard in the early morning to pick forget-me-nots, dandelions, and violets to give to mother before I headed off to school. These days, the beginning of May means bring on the summer books, the beach reading, the vacation book covers.

That's what today's roundup is all about. I'm sure there is much more summery fiction with beachy covers coming out this month, but here are 10 that crossed my (mostly virtual) doorstep. Most of the authors featured today are my yearly go-tos. In case you're wondering, yes, Elin Hilderbrand has a new summer novel, but that one isn't out until June.

If you're like me and it you haven't yet set up your deck or porch, or it's rainy or cool in your area, just pretend it's a sunny, warm Saturday and you have nothing to do but get lost in a good escape novel.

Notes: (1) Because of COVID-19 publication dates have changed on many titles that were scheduled for this spring. All the books featured here were originally slated for a May 2020 release. (2) Plot summaries are taken from the publishers.

The Lion's Den by Katherine St. John (Grand Central; June 30): Suspense. A struggling actress/waitress says yes to her BFF's offer to accompany her on a vacation to the Mediterranean aboard her wealthy boyfriend's yacht. Belle quickly sees that beneath the glitz and glamour, there is a dark side to life on the Lion's Den. . . . will she make it off the ship alive and with her secrets intact? First lines:

I’ve always thought myself immune to the dizzying effects of fabulous wealth, but the sight of sleek jets lined up on the tarmac ignites an unexpected giddiness in me. How liberating to be able to move about the world so easily, without the inconveniences of mass transportation. No lines at the ticketing counter, no taking off shoes and disassembling carry-on bags, no body scans, no cramped leg space or short connections, no luggage belts or lost bags.

Audiobook: read by Christine Lakin

East Coast Girls by Kerry Kletter (Mira; May 26): Women's friendship. Set in Montauk, four adult friends agree to a reunion where they spent their childhood summers, until a tragedy pulled them apart. Hoping for healing and understanding the women are instead forced to face the past and reveal their inner selves. Told from alternating viewpoints in the present and in the past. First lines:

It was mid-July, when the sun shined the memory of every good summer before it, and the days wandered like beach walkers, hot and indolent, catching chance breezes off the ocean. They’d stopped at the fair on a whim on their way back from Montauk, were supposed to be home hours before, but the vibrancy of live music and crowds and the feeling of a party not yet over beckoned them, so they lingered, wanting to stay inside this future memory a little longer.

Audiobook: read by Patricia Santomasso

Summer Darlings by Brooke Lea Foster (Gallery; May 5): Historical fiction. In the 1962, a working-class college student moves to Martha's Vineyard to nanny a rich couple's young children. There she sees how the other half lives and is taken in by the ease and privilege. Eventually, however, she learns that having money and traveling in high society can cover a multitude of sins and unhappiness. First lines:

Jackie Kennedy sails these waters. In fact, the First Lady might be looking at the same sunlit cliffs as Heddy, and the thought of Jackie in her big black sunglasses, placing a kiss on the president while their boat rounded Vineyard Sound, tickled the corners of Heddy’s mouth and made her peek over onto the deck of a wooden sailboat bobbing in the harbor. Heddy waved back at a man, shirtless and barefoot, holding a fishing line. He was no Jack Kennedy, but he wasn’t half bad, either.

Audiobook: read by Rebekkah Ross

Hello, Summer by Mary Kay Andrews (St. Martin's Press; May 5): Women's fiction. Conley Hawkins has newsprint in her blood, but she turned her back on her family's beach-town paper for a journalism career in Washington, DC. When she loses her job, she returns home, where she's told to take over the summer gossip column. Despite a possible romance, all is routine, until Conley starts to investigate the death of a local politician and secrets rise to the surface. First lines:

"I hate these things," Conley Hawkins said, gazing toward the newsroom's glass-encased conference room, where the rest of the staff was gathering. "Stale sheet cake, lukewarm champagne, and tepid farewells. It's such a farce. At least a third of the people in that room don't even like me. I've said goodbye to the people I care about. Can't we just leave it at that?"

Audiobook: read by Kathleen McInerney

Beach Read by Emily Henry (Berkley; May 19): Romantic comedy. What happens when a best-selling romance writer ends up renting a Michigan beach cottage next to one of her old rivals, a well-respected author of literary fiction? When they discover they are each suffering writer's block, they make a plan to help each other over the hump; what they didn't count on was the old adage that opposites attract . . . will they finish their books, fall in love, or both? First lines:

I wasn’t ready to look through the rest of the house, so I settled down at the table to write. As usual, the blank document was staring accusingly at me, refusing to fill itself with words or characters, no matter how long I stared back.

Here’s the thing about writing Happily Ever Afters: it helps if you believe in them.

Audiobook: read by Julia Whelan

Summer Longing by Jamie Brenner (Little, Brown; May 5): Women's fiction. The routines of summer in Provincetown are disrupted when a baby girl is left at the doorstep of a newcomer, who is renting a cottage while deciding on what she wants out of her retirement. The women of the small community band together, as the appearance of the infant brings out a mix of emotions from grief and longing to joy and sense of purpose. This multilayered novel focuses on mother-daughter relationships, women's friendship, new possibilities, healing, and life on the Cape. First lines:

She hadn’t been on a summer vacation in thirty years. Although, if she really thought about it, a trip didn’t count as a vacation if you weren’t coming back. Either way, there would be no more meetings, no more deadlines, no more fires to put out. Ruth was free.

Audiobook: read by Molly Parker Myers

Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner (Atria; May 5): Women's friendships. Daphne finds it hard to say no when her ex-friend, a woman she hasn't talked to in years, asks her to be the maid-of-honor at her Cape Cod wedding. In the years since their separation, Daphne has become a well-known social media influencer, but her friend's glamorous lifestyle is still a draw. Can the women find reconciliation and understanding, even under the pressures of trying to pull off the perfect weekend wedding while the world watches? First lines [prologue]:

By the second week of September, the outer Cape was practically deserted. The tourists had packed up and gone home. The roads were empty; the glorious beaches were abandoned. It was a shame: by September, the ocean was finally warm enough for swimming, especially if it had been a hot August, and the paths that wound through the dunes and cranberry bogs and secret blueberry bushes, the ones that were pickup spots for men in summer’s high season, were deserted, and the bushes were full of ripe berries.

Audiobook: read by Danielle Macdonald

The Somerset Girls by Lori Foster (HQN; May 19): Sisters; family. Sisters Autumn and Ember couldn't be more different; one is bookish, the other is into partying. Regardless, they work well together as they try to keep their family's animal-rescue farm afloat and help take care of their ailing father. When it comes to romantic relationships, though, the sisters harbor long-buried hurts and insecurities. When a childhood crush of Autumn's returns to town, she sees possibilities--but what about Ember? Will the sisters find all they dream of by the end of the hot, humid Kentucky summer?

A refreshing shower, ice cream and the book she was reading.

As Autumn Somerset got the unhappy pigs into the back of her truck, she repeatedly recited the awards that awaited her at the end of her day.

Audiobook: read by Samantha Desz

My Kind of People by Lisa Duffy (Atria; May 12): Family relationships. Set on a small island off the coast of Massachusetts, this is the story of how a community comes together to help raise a 10-year-old girl who finds herself orphaned for the second time in her short life. Leo is balancing his unexpected fatherhood with his new marriage and other neighbors are doing their best to be supportive while dealing with their own problems, holding close to secrets, and coping with family issues. Despite personal problems, the islanders are determined to give Sky a home and security.

In the hours before dawn, she slips out of the house and runs. She knows the way by heart, even though she’s only ten, and the land swells around her like the mother’s bosom she never knew.

She follows the path that winds near the cliff, the edge nipping at her feet, threatening to swallow her whole. Spit her out on the rocky shore below.

Audiobook: read by Joniece Abbott-Pratt, Nancy Linari, Madeleine Maby, and David Sadzin

On Ocean Boulevard by Mary Alice Monroe (Gallery; May 19): Women's fiction. Set on Sullivan Island, this is the story of three generations of the Rutledge family, each on the brink of a new, exciting beginning. There's a second wedding in Charleston, a new house on Ocean Boulevard, and an a new career on the island. But when circumstances suddenly change after a family member falls ill, the women must pull together to try to embrace their futures in the new normal. First lines:

The lowcountry was spread out far below as she soared in the sky. Linnea Rutledge sighed and placed her fingertips on the plane’s cool window, her eyes tracing the twisting creeks and winding rivers that snaked through the seemingly impenetrable greenery of the salt marsh. From her vantage point, the rivers looked like great arteries, and all the myriad creeks were veins. Saltwater coursed through them like a bloodstream. The tides were the lowcountry’s pumping heart

Audiobook: read by Cassandra Campbell

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Today's Read: And They Called It Camelot by Stephanie Marie Thornton

Are you old enough to remember the Kennedy administration or to remember what you were doing when you learned President John F. Kennedy had been assassinated? I'm old enough, and I remember. Even if you weren't yet born in fall 1963, I'm sure you have an inkling about the Kennedy mystique and the aura surrounding Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy. If you're still not sure, think: Princess Di.

Although I'm not Kennedy obsessed, I'm endlessly curious about Jackie O. How did this smart, stylish, and capable woman end up with two husbands who hardly supported her independence? Maybe this novel will give me some insights. Here's how it opens, on the morning of November 22, 1963:

The pink pillbox hat and Chanel-inspired bouclé suit awaited her on the bed.

The shouts of “Jack-ie!” still rang in her ears, and her headache had scarcely dulled after yesterday’s constant cascade of blinding flashbulbs. Yet she’d braved the crowds as she had so many other times over the past ten years, and with her husband’s reelection campaign looming, her false smile was guaranteed to become a permanent fixture in the months to come.

So she tugged the watermelon wool skirt over her silk slip and buttoned the jacket’s gold buttons, the deafening roar of applause from downstairs causing the walls to tremble, while John F. Kennedy shook voters’ hands and kissed their chubby-cheeked babies in the ballroom below.

A few more minutes alone, she thought to herself. Just a few more minutes.

There were never enough minutes. And there was never, ever enough time alone.

—And They Called It Camelot by Stephanie Marie Thornton (Berkley, March 10, ARC)

Quick Facts

• Setting: second half of the 20th century; United States and abroad
• Circumstances: This is a well-researched fictionalized account of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy's life as told through her voice. We learn about her relationships with her birth family, the Kennedy clan, her children, and the Onassis family. We are given a deeper look into the choices she made and the consequences of those choices. At the end of the novel, we see her emerge from her battles as an independent woman with a job she was about to fully own.
• Genre & themes: historical fiction; family; independence; women's issues; a snapshot of a different generation
• Gleaned from reviews: well-written, well-researched, insightful (starred review from Publisher's Weekly)
• Why I want to read this: Besides needing to escape 2020? As I said earlier, I have a fascination with Jackie O and -- though on far, far ends of the editorial spectrum -- we share a career. :)
• Extras: readers can download a book club kit, which includes a menu as well as discussion questions; an author's note clarifies Thornton's choices for how she told the story; the book includes a bibliography and an author interview.
• Audiobook: Read by Cassandra Campbell (Penguin Audio: 17 hr, 2 min)
• Acknowledgments: Thanks to the publisher for the review copy of Stephanie Marie Thornton's And They Called It Camelot.

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6 December Thrillers Written by Women

The further we get into December the less interested I am in books that make me think. I want escape, and I want to be entertained. The most I want to ponder when I'm reading this month is along the lines of whodunit.

Here are a half dozen thrillers and mysteries that will suit me just fine. Which ones call to you?

A Madness of Sunshine by Nalini Singh (Berkley, Dec. 3): This is a missing person thriller set in a small town in New Zealand. The characters include an outsider big-city detective who ends up as the town's only cop and a prodigal daughter who's returned home after an eight-year hiatus. The two team up to search for clues and sort through the suspects, churning up old crimes and deep secrets among the villagers. The New Zealand countryside plays a role in this dark thriller in which everyone seems to be hiding something. Opening lines:

She returned home two hundred and seventeen days after burying her husband while his pregnant mistress sobbed so hard that she made herself sick. Anahera had stood stone-faced, staring down at the gleaming mahogany coffin she’d chosen because that was what Edward would’ve wanted. Quiet elegance and money that didn’t make itself obvious, that had been Edward’s way. Appearances above everything.

Audiobook: Narrated by Saskia Maarleveld (Penguin Audio; 10 hr; 59 min) [digital and audio copies provided by the publisher]

Reputation by Sara Shepard (Dutton, Dec. 3): This thriller involves a small Pennsylvania college town, hacked email, and a murder. When tens of thousands of personal emails are dumped into a searchable public database, all hell breaks loose. When an investigative reporter returns home to help her newly widowed sister, they can't help but start looking into the husband's death, unearthing secret upon secret while a killer remains on the loose. Opening lines:

Maybe you got it at birth. Maybe you gained it through hard work. Perhaps you have yours because you’re charitable, or ambitious, or an asshole. It’s your reputation. Everyone’s got one. And if you think reputations don’t matter, you’re wrong.

Audiobook: Narrated by Lisa Flanagan, Allyson Ryan, Phoebe Strole, Brittany Pressley, and Karissa Vacker (Penguin Audio; 13 hr, 3 min) [digital and audio copies provided by the publisher]

The Wives by Tarryn Fisher (Graydon House, Dec. 30): This psychological thriller is set in Seattle and is told through the eyes of a woman who is knowingly in a polygamist marriage, even though she has never met the other women. All is fine until it's not, and the legal wife discovers the identity of one of the other woman. She meets her, incognito, and discovers her mild-mannered husband may have a violent streak, and she begins to fear for her own safety. Opening lines:

He comes over on Thursday of every week. That’s my day, I’m Thursday. It’s a hopeful day, lost in the middle of the more important days; not the beginning or the end, but a stop. An appetizer to the weekend. Sometimes I wonder about the other days and if they wonder about me. That’s how women are, right? Always wondering about each other—curiosity and spite curdling together in little emotional puddles. Little good that does; if you wonder too hard, you’ll get everything wrong.

Audiobook: Narrated by Lauren Fortgang (Harlequin Audio; 9 hr) [digital and audio copies provided by the publisher]

All That's Bright and Gone by Eliza Nellums (Crooked Lane Books, Dec. 10): In this mystery, set in the Detroit area, six-year-old Aoife and her slightly older neighbor set out to find out what really happened to Aoife's dead brother, why her mother has been hospitalized, and what her lawyer uncle isn't telling her. The story, with themes of family, grief, secrets, and redemption, is told through Aoife's eyes. Opening lines:

I know my brother is dead. I’m not dumb like Hazel Merkowicz from up the street says.

Sometimes Mama just gets confused, is all.

Like every year on the feast of Saint Theodore, his birthday, Mama sets out an extra plate for Theo, with a candle on it instead of food because I guess Theo isn’t hungry. And Mama says, “Isn’t this nice? It’s like we’re all together again.”

Audiobook: Narrated by Jesse Vilinsky (Blackstone; 9 hr, 16 min) [digital copy provided by the publisher]

Thin Ice by Paige Shelton (Minotaur, Dec. 3): In this first in a new mystery series, a thriller author takes on a new identity and hides out in a small Alaskan town while police try to track down a man who kidnapped her. Settling into her new home, she agrees to help both the local police department and the newspaper, which gives her a good platform for researching her own assailant. Small, remote towns, however, are not always as safe as one would think. Opening lines:

The good thing about being suddenly overcome with fresh terror is that you forget everything else you were afraid of. At least temporarily.

The pilot next to me in the two-seat prop plane angled his almost toothless grin my direction and said loudly, “A little bumpy today. You’ll get used to it.”

Audiobook: Narrated by Suzie Althens (Dreamscape; 9 hr, 17 min) [digital copy provided by the publisher]

Good Girls Lie by J. T. Ellison (Mira, Dec. 30): When a British high school student gets a scholarship to an elite boarding school in Virginia, she thinks she is leaving all her troubles and dark past far away across the ocean. But mean girls, secret societies, and shadowy corners of campus haunt her and any other girl who refuses to play along with the popular kids. Can our hero truly escape her past? Opening lines:

The girl’s body dangles from the tall, iron gates guarding the school’s entrance. A closer examination shows the ends of a red silk tie peeking out like a cardinal on a winter branch, forcing her neck into a brutal angle. She wears her graduation robe and multicolored stole as if knowing she’ll never see the achievement. The last tendrils of dawn’s fog laze about her legs, which are five feet from the ground. It rained overnight and the thin robe clings to her body, dew sparkling on the edges.

Audiobook: Narrated by Fiona Hardingham (Harlequin Audio; 11 hr, 53 min) [digital and audio copies provided by the publisher]

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7 Novels You Don't Want to Miss

Here we are on the last day of May, and I haven’t yet finished all the books I wanted to read this month. Sob. The good thing about books, though, is that they don’t have an expiration date. What’s more, just because *I* haven’t yet found the time to read the novels I’m featuring today doesn’t mean that *you* can’t add them to your own reading list.

The following seven novels deal with a variety of issues and themes, and I’m sure there’s at least one that will call to you. I'm not quite sure which I want to read first.

Contemporary Issues

Randy Susan Meyers’s Waisted (Atria, May 21) is about two women who meet at a Vermont estate when they both enter an intense weight-loss program. For both Alice and Daphne, perceived excess body weight is causing problems with their families (though for different reasons). There’s catch to the Waisted program, however; the seven women enrolled in the program have agreed to be on camera, practically 24/7—the result will be a documentary charting their progress. How far will the filmmakers go to add drama to the experience and how much can the women be pushed before they rebel? Themes of overweight, friendship, and being in control of one’s own body. Audiobook: Simon & Schuster Audio; 9 hr, 53 min; read by Robin Eller and Amanda Ronconi

In The East End (Park Row, May 7), Jason Allen introduces us to two families, one uber rich and the other struggling working class. One night Corey, a local Hamptons high school senior, successfully breaks into the mansion where he and his mother work; all is going according to plan until the owner shows up unexpectedly, a secret male lover in tow. The boy witnesses a horrible accident that Leo must cover up before his wife, family, and guests arrive for their annual Memorial Day getaway weekend. Who else knows what happened that night, and what won’t the rich do to protect their status? Themes include family, secrets, the socioeconomic divide, trust, and ethics. Audiobook: Harlequin Audio; 8 hr, 20 min; read by Angelo Di Loreto.

Mary Miller’s Biloxi (Liveright, May 21) looks at what it means to be middle-aged, lonely, male, and facing new beginnings. After an early retirement, Louis—divorced from his wife and estranged from his daughter—impulsively adopts a mixed-breed border collie, who changes his life for the better. No one is more surprised at the joys of owning a dog than is Louis himself, who begins to learn the lessons of loyalty and friendship and is motivated to get off the couch and turn off the TV to explore his Gulf Coast home. This novel about contemporary society promises the possibility of new beginnings and self-discovery, something we can all hope for. Audiobook: no information.

They say one should write what they know, and in the #ownvoices novel Birthday (Flatiron, May 21), Meredith Russo does just that. Two boys, born on the same day, become friends for life . . . at least that’s what Eric thinks. Morgan, however, is less sure. Dealing with the death of his mother, a distant father, and new school is only part of Morgan’s worries. He’s completely unsure how to reveal his knowledge that he was born into the wrong body. He knows, deep in his soul, that he is really a she. But if he reveals his true gender, who will be with him? Can she have the relationship with Eric she dreams of? Will her father reject her? This is an emotionally deep story of gender identity, friendship, love, and family. Audiobook: Macmillan Audio; 7 hr, 59 min; read by Dana Aliya Levinson (includes a bonus interview with the author)

Friendship & Love

Jessica Francis Kane’s Rules for Visiting (Penguin, May 14) is about a reclusive gardener who, at the start of middle age, decides to visit some her old friends in real life. When May is granted a sabbatical from her job, she uses the time to undergo a journey, reconnecting with each of her four best friends in turn. Her love of trees and cats helps her relish each day, and her knowledge of Emily Post and ancient Greece culture inspires her to be perfect guest. May’s decision to venture out into the world beyond her gardens reminds us that even in the digital age, nothing can beat face-to-face encounters with the people who matter to us and know us best. Audiobook: Penguin Audio; 6 hr, 34 min; read by Emily Rankin.

Wendy Wax’s My Ex-Best Friend’s Wedding (Berkley, May 14) involves estranged friends, a beautiful wedding dress, and the struggle to forgive. When Lauren and her fiancee return to her home town on the Outer Banks to plan their wedding, she is dreaming about the beautiful heirloom wedding dress that’s been carefully stored and waiting for this happy day. Lauren also knows she’ll have to face Bree, once as close as a sister but now a source of betrayal and hurt. Will Lauren’s mother be able to heal the wounds, giving the Lauren and Bree a chance for a brighter future? Through Lauren and Bree, we learn that it’s never too late to seek and grant forgiveness. Audiobook: Penguin Audio; 11 hr, 28 min; read by Lauren Fortgang, Ellen Archer and Brittany Pressley.

How Not to Die Alone (Putnam, May 28) by Richard Roper is about how a lonely health service employee finds a way to embrace life and love. Andrew’s job is to track down the families of Londoners who die alone. Trying to distance himself from his deceased clients, he pretends to his co-workers that he has a family and an active social life, though in reality he lives alone, guarding his heart. But when Peggy joins the office, Andrew gets a hint at what he’s been missing and must find a way to reveal his truths without alienating the only people he sees on a daily basis. Andrew’s story reminds us that the risks of being emotionally vulnerable are outweighed by the benefits. Audiobook: Penguin Audio; 8 hr, 52 min; read by Simon Vance.

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Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: The Mega Review Edition

Hurray for opening windows and getting outside (if you ignore the pesky rain and ridiculous pollen levels). Spring is really, really here.

Even our outdoor farmers market opens this week. I'll be there every Tuesday afternoon from tomorrow all the way through to the end of October. I'm so ready to eat local!

Last Monday I was getting settled back to normal life after a four-day lacemaking workshop and just didn't have the energy to write my Monday review post. That has two consequences: (1) this post is covering a whole lot of books and (2) some of my thoughts are very brief.

Bakhita: The Saint of Sudan by Veronique Olmi, translated from the French by Adriana Hunter (Other Press, April 16). This novel is based on the life story of Mother Josephine Bakhita, who was kidnapped from her Sudanese village by slavers when she was a little girl. After being sold several times and unspeakably abused, she was eventually bought by an Italian consul, who took her back to Italy. There Bakhita worked for a wealthy family until she finally was freed by Italian courts. By that time, she had a calling from God and joined a convent, where she tried to find peace and acceptance. Her selfless good acts, despite the horrors she both observed and suffered during her childhood, earned her sainthood in 2000, almost fifty years after her death. This is not an easy book to read, but Bakhita's story is powerful and heartbreaking. Even with the nuns, she was not totally at rest--her scars and the memories of how she got them, her skin color, and her many losses weighed heavily on her. Nonetheless, Bakhita always worked to provide comfort and protection to those who lacked both, especially during the World Wars. Don't miss this story of an extraordinary woman who survived slavery in Africa to devote herself to God and the people of Italy. (Finished print copy provided by the publisher.)

Park Avenue Summer by Renee Rosen (Berkley, April 30). If you're of a certain age then you at least recognize the name Helen Gurley Brown and are probably familiar with idea of the Cosmo girl. In the mid-1960s, just after the British (music) invasion and at the beginning of the sexual revolution, Brown took over Cosmopolitan, becoming the first female editor-in-chief of a Hearst publication. This novel covers Brown's first months at the magazine and her fight to shift its audience from middle-class housewives to cutting-edge single women. The story is told through the eyes of her assistant, Alice, who moved to the city to pursue her dream of becoming a professional photographer. I  really liked both plot lines of Rosen's novel. Brown struggled against the male hierarchy and her own insecurities, but eventually headed one of the most-read magazines in the Hearst stable. Alice, a native Midwesterner, is exposed to all the city has to offer: hard work and career opportunities as well as love and betrayal. The period details (music, restaurants, clothes) and the behind the scenes look at Cosmo rounded out the story of Brown's eventual success and Alice's first summer in the city. Audiobook: The unabridged audiobook (Penguin Audio; 10 hr, 42 min) was nicely read by Kathe Mazur, who perfectly captured Alice's trajectory from city innocent to strong woman ready to face her future. (Finished copy, digital galley, and audiobook provided by the publisher.)

I'll Keep You Safe by Peter May (Quercus, March 2018). I've been on a Peter May kick this year, listening to some of his novels for the first time and revisiting in audio the books I had previously read in print. This mystery/thriller starts in Paris as Niamh and Ruairidh, childhood friends and now spouses and business partners, attend a fashion show to sell the unique wool cloth they design and manufacture in their native Lewis island, in the Outer Hebrides. After an argument in which Niamh accuses Ruairidh of having an affair, he leaves their hotel room to meet up with a fashion icon. Niamh runs after their car, only to see it explode in a burst of flame. The rest of the novel is set in Lewis, where Niamh must face the future without her husband and wait for the French police to identify the car bomber. May is a master of building up the background of his characters, carefully timing when to reveal past events as his characters work through their present. Niamh discovers just how few allies she has in the place she calls home, and we're left trying to figure out which unsavory relative or friend may have reason to do away with Ruairidh. I don't think this was May's strongest ending (to say the least), but frankly the solution to the murder usually takes a backseat to life in the Outer Hebrides, and that's just how I like it. Audiobook: The unabridged audiobook (Hachette Audio, 11 hr, 33 min) was alternately read by Anna Murray and Peter Forbes. Forbes performed the chapters told in the present, and Murray took on the chapters about Niamh's past. Although Murray did a fine job, Forbes seems tailor-made to read May's work, and his performance was the stronger. (Audiobook provided by the publisher.)

Heads Will Roll by Kate McKinnon and Emily Lynne (Audible Studios; 4 hr, 6 min). If you like fun, raunchy, and timely humor in the style of old-time radio drama or Firesign Theater you must listen to this Audible Original, written by and starring McKinnon and Lynne. The evil queen, Mortuana, and her BFF JoJo--turned into a raven by an old hag--work together to put down a peasant rebellion and the idea of social democracy while also individually coming to terms with who they are and who and what they want to be. The combo of current political references and pop culture nods with mythology and fairy tale tropes is just too much fun to miss. We have Sirens (played by Queer Eye's Fab Five), celebrity chefs, actresses, servants, comedians, rebels, gnomes, and a few squawking fowl. Original songs, sound effects, and great acting pull everything together. The full cast also includes Meryl Streep, Peter Dinklage, and Tim Gunn. This title is well worth one of your Audible credits or your cash. I know I'll listen to this more than once. (Audiobook in my personal library.)

National Geographic Kids Almanac 2020 by National Geographic (May 7). I can't say enough good things about this fact-filled book for middle grade readers who have an interest in the natural world. Using National Geographic's signature gorgeous photos and colorful and easy-to-read graphics, the book covers everything from animal behavior to climate change, space exploration, history, and the sociocultural world. Besides informative text, the almanac includes activities, quizzes, and homework help. One of my favorite features is getting the chance to meet some of the National Geographic explorers and researchers (for example, archaeologist, filmmaker, pilot, ecologist). This is the kind of book (as you would expect) that you'll read in bits rather than cover to cover. I especially like the maps and the snapshot descriptions of each country. Pick a copy up for a curious kid in your life; it would make a great gift for the end of the school year. (Finished copy provided by the publisher.)

Birds by the Shore: Observing the Natural Life of the Atlantic Coast by Jennifer Ackerman (Penguin, May 7). This collection of nature essays is actually a reprint (with a new introduction) of a book published in the 1990s that primarily focuses on the Delaware shore. Although the title implies that Ackerman mainly observed birds, she also writes of other species, like turtles, fish, and butterflies. She has both a personal perspective and a wider ecological and sociological scope, and her thoughts are often supported by research. Woven throughout are memories of her childhood and parents, and visits to Cape Cod and other seaside environments. I loved this collection and am now kicking myself for not having read her The Genius of Birds. I plan to dig out my copy of that 2016 book later this year. The print copy includes maps and and black and white drawings by Karin Grosz. I alternately read the print book and listened to the audiobook (Penguin Audio; 5 hr, 4 min). Ackerman read her own book, and though she's clearly not a professional narrator, she was pleasant to listen to. I recommend reading in print so you don't miss the illustrations. (Print galley and audiobook provided by the publisher.)

• Death Threat by Vivek Shraya, illustrated by Ness Lee (Arsenal Pulp Press, May 7). If you are familiar with writer / musician Shraya, you shouldn't miss this graphic memoir that explores the author's exposure to disturbing transgender hate mail sent by a stranger. I really liked Lee's artwork and was, of course, horrified by the incident Shraya addresses. However, because I am unfamiliar with Shraya's work, I didn't connect as strongly as others might. (Finished copy provided by the publisher.)
• Home Remedies by Xuan Juliana Wang (Hogarth, May 14). This collection of short stories explores the life of contemporary Chinese new adults, focusing heavily on family and friendship. The settings are Europe, the United States, and China, and the book as a whole is an important addition to the #ownvoices movement. I listened to the unabridged audiobook (Random House Audio, May 14) for a freelance assignment. Each story was read by a different narrator, and although some performances were stronger than others, all were easy on the ears. For more thoughts on the audiobook, see AudioFile magazine.

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5 Books Set in Twentieth-Century America

One of the great joys of reading, at least for me, is being transported to other places, other times. I know that many of you say you have no interest in historical fiction, but I enjoy reading about the past. As today’s recommendations prove, not all historical fiction involves Henry VIII or World War II.

By chance, the books that caught my attention this week take us to the U.S. coasts. East or west? You pick. Just a side note: Don't you just love the covers of these books?

What’s Happening in Hollywood?

• City of Flickering Light by Juliette Fay (Gallery Books, April 16). Set in the 1920s, when the movie industry was just getting started, this novel follows three friends who leave the burlesque circuit to find fame and fortune in Hollywood. The silent pictures may offer plenty of opportunity, but for most would-be stars, the journey is fraught with hardship, poverty, and distasteful choices. Are Irene, Millie, and Henry prepared for what awaits them, both in front of and behind the camera? Audiobook: Read by Lisa Flanagan (Blackstone; 11 hr, 32 min)
• The Great Pretenders by Laura Kalpakian (Berkley, April 16). Set in the 1950s, this is the story of a young woman trying to establish herself as a Hollywood producer against the backdrop of the McCarthy-era communist scare and the early days of the civil rights movement. Although Roxanne was raised among the industry elite, she is not protected from conservative politics or gossip and scandal. Audiobook: Read by Alexandra Harris (Penguin; 13 hr, 2 min)

Head on Back to the East

• Cape May by Chip Cheek (Celadon, April 30). Set in the 1950s on the Jersey Shore, this novel explores what happens after an innocent young southern couple's off-season honeymoon turns into a walk on the wild side of Yankee fashionable society. Henry and Effie can't seem to resist the booze-infused seductive days and nights offered by their new cool friends. The beach life is grand, but at what cost? Audiobook: Read by George Newbern (Macmillan; 7 hr, 34 min)
• When We Left Cuba by Chanel Cleeton (Berkley, April 9). Set in the 1960s, mostly in Florida, this story follows a young woman who seeks revenge on none other than Fidel Castro, whom she blames for the death of her twin brother and for her family's exile to the States. Mixing a little romance with politics and cold war intrigue, this is about Beatriz Perez and how she tries to balance the sorrow of the past with the hope of the future in her new country. Audiobook: Read by Kyla Garcia (Blackstone; 11 hr, 7 min)
• Park Avenue Summer by Renée Rosen (Berkley, April 30). Set in the 1960s in New York City, this novel imagines Helen Gurley Brown's first months at the Hearst offices and her fight to transform Cosmopolitan into her vision of the modern woman. Told through the eyes of her new-to-the-city assistant, we get an insider's view of Brown, the old boy's network, and the dawn of women's liberation. Audiobook: Read by Kathe Mazur (Penguin; 10 hr, 42 min)

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6 Books to Celebrate Women's History Month

The other day I was in one of those rare states of being in between both print/digital and audiobooks. When I was thinking about what to read next, I remembered March is Women's History Month. This prompted me to sort through my new releases to see which titles would fit the theme. I found books geared to young adult readers and to adults. My mix includes fiction and nonfiction, and one is written in verse.

Although not all the books I feature today are technically women's history, I think they all nicely celebrate the spirit of Women's History Month.

American Princess by Stephanie Marie Thornton (Berkley, March 12): Alice Roosevelt, daughter of President Teddy Roosevelt, was a no-nonsense, you-can't-stop-me kind of woman. She grew up in the public eye and knew how to use that platform to its best advantage, without stifling her wild side. Yes, she smoked cigarettes in public, but she also understood Washington, DC. Even so, she was less savvy when it came to friendships and love, and her flamboyant personality veiled some deep sorrows. This well-researched novelized version of Alice's life begins in 1901 with her father's unexpected presidency (after McKinley was assassinated) and ends in late 1970s, just before her death. Alice witnessed two world wars, women's suffrage, two presidential assassinations and one resignation, and great changes in technology and society. Audiobook: Penguin Audio; 15 hr, 27 min; read by Elizabeth Wiley.

The Real Wallis Simpson: A New History of the American Divorcée Who Became the Duchess of Windsor by Anna Pasternak (Atria; March 5): You know who Wallis Simpson was: the woman who caused a king to give up his throne. Simpson's disruption of the monarchy is often thought of as the least of her sins. She was supposed to have been a Nazi sympathizer and spy and self-promoting schemer. Pasternak's new biography provides an alternate perspective of what lay behind the gossip and public perceptions and paints a different picture of the woman who was shunned by Britain, suggesting that the royal family took advantage of the situation to dethrone Edward, whom they thought unfit to rule. In this account, Simpson is less concerned with becoming a queen than she is with the welfare of her husband, being the only one who knows how to placate his whims and moods. Pasternak also suggests a fairly innocent reason for the Windsors' interest in Hitler. Did Simpson get a raw deal from the royals and the media or did she deserve her bad press? This biography helps round out Simpson's story. Audiobook: Simon & Schuster Audio; 11 hr, 37 min; read by Laura Kirman.

Salt on Your Tongue by Charlotte Runcie (Canongate, March 5): It's a little hard to describe this book of personal essays because Runcie covers so much territory within its covers. As the subtitle--"Women and the Sea"--suggests, the unifying thread of her pieces is the ocean. Some of the essays are clearly nature writing; some are about motherhood; and others take a literary, mythology, or history bent. Women have always had a mixed relationship to the sea. The ocean took their husbands and sons but also provided food, beauty, and recreation. Runcie explores the shoreline and tidal pools, recalls songs and poems celebrating the sea, and turns to the waves when life is overwhelming. Shakespeare, folk tales, Greek mythology, and science all make appearances, but Runcie's Scotland and its rugged coast is the star. This is a book for those who love the beach. Audiobook: Cannongate; 8 hr, 48 min; read by Jessica Hardwick.

Voices: The Final Hours of Joan of Arc by David Elliott (HMH Books for Young Readers, March 26): This novel in verse geared to young adult readers imagines Joan of Arc's last day through multiple perspectives, some living, some not. Elliott uses a variety of poetic forms, which are signaled by typeface, placement of the words on the page, and ornamented initial capital letters. We hear from Joan's mother and Catholic saints; from the king and from her childhood friends. We also hear from inanimate objects, like a church's altar; from animals, including a stag; and from emotions and states of being, such as lust. Elliott bases at least some of his work on the historic records of Joan's two trials. The first trial includes Joan's own words and resulted in her being burned at the stake. The second trial, held years after her death, documents the voices of the people who knew her well. The book includes a map, a guide to pronunciations, and an index of poetry forms used. Forget the "young readers" label; this is for you too. Audiobook: no information.

Women Who Dared to Break All the Rules by Jeremy Scott (Oneworld, March 12): This collection of short biographies focuses on six women who defied their gender stereotypes and/or societal expectations to follow their own advice. Some are well-known women, such as Mary Wollstonecraft whose equal rights document has inspired women for centuries. Others are more obscure, such as Margaret Argyll, who was often the subject of a hostile press as she pursued her passions (and divorces). The other women are Victoria Woodhull (women's suffrage), Aimee Semple McPherson (a preacher), Edwina Mountbatten (last vicereine of India), and Coco Chanel (fashion icon). This collection provides a good introduction to interesting women who were a force to be reckoned with during their lifetimes; some of them are still making waves today. The book is illustrated with black-and-white photos and ends with a bibliography of the sources used. Audiobook: no information.

Yes She Can compiled by Molly Dillion (Schwartz & Wade, March 5): This book collects the stories of 10 young women who served in the White House during the Obama administration. Now a few years older and in a different America, these women give us an inside look at the everyday workings of the White House, share their thoughts on being part of a historic presidency, and inspire women and girls to find their own place in American government. Although these women helped shaped their country and the world, they aren't afraid to share their blunders and mistakes, and it's exactly this personal and down-to-earth viewpoint that makes these essays so accessible. You too, no matter your age, can make a difference: get out the vote, become an activist, volunteer, find a new job--just do what you can to make the world a better place for everyone. The book includes a glossy photo insert and ends with a guide for how young people can become involved in the day-to-day business of running the government. The target audience is young adult, but these smart, capable women are speaking to all American citizens. Audiobook: no information.

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7 New Thrillers Written by Women

Never mind that we’re on the other side of the winter solstice and that global warming is real, I still think of January as having long, cold evenings that were made for reading. Give me a good suspense or crime novel, a cozy afghan, and something warm to drink and I’ll be happy for hours. Here are seven thrillers that have caught my eye—all written by women and all out this month.

• An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen (St. Martin’s Press, January 8): Set in New York City, this is the story of a young woman who worms her way into an ethics study, hoping to answer a quick survey and walk away with $500. As the female doctor’s probing questions become more and more disturbing, our protagonist finds it difficult to break free.
• The Au Pair by Emma Rous (Berkley, January 8): Set on the Norfolk coast, this is a thriller involving family secrets. When a young woman goes through her late-father’s belongings she finds a photograph that makes her question the circumstances of her mother’s suicide, just hours after giving birth, and the reasons for the au pair’s sudden departure on the very same day.
• Freefall by Jessica Barry (Harper, January 8): A woman survives a plane crash in the Colorado Rockies, knowing that conquering nature is the least of her concerns. Meanwhile in Maine, her estranged mother, desperate to learn her daughter's fate, discovers the younger woman's secret life and hopes to offer protection before it's too late.
• Her One Mistake by Heidi Perks (Gallery, January 8): Set in the English countryside, this is the story of what happens when a woman loses her best friend’s daughter at the local school fair. In the aftermath of the tragedy, Harriet, the grieving mother, withdraws from her husband and friends. When the police investigation fails to recover the girl, Harriet realizes she must face her darker self before she can have any hope of seeing her daughter again.

• She Lies in Wait by Gytha Lodge (Random House; January 8): Set in Hampshire, England, this start of a new series involves a cold-case murder and small-town secrets. Thirty years after a young teen disappeared after partying in the woods with friends, her body is found, and the local detective chief inspector is tasked with tracking down the witnesses and uncovering the truth of what happened the night the girl was killed.
• The Suspect by Fiona Barton (Berkley; January 22): Set mostly in Bangkok, this thriller asks, How far would a mother go to protect her child? When a British journalist is dispatched to Thailand to follow a story about two teens who went missing after a fire in a youth hostel, she is horrified to discover that her estranged son is a prime suspect.
• Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen M. McManus (Delacorte Press, January 8): When teenage twins move to Vermont to live with their grandmother, one of them becomes obsessed with the small town’s infamous reputation for girls gone missing. A fairly recent murder, another disappearance, and personal threats can’t keep our hero from poking into the area's dark history.

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9 Books to Read in October

I thought I'd do something a little bit different for this week's roundup. Instead of featuring books with a uniting thread (audience, genre, etc.), I'm giving you a peek at my ereader. So here, in alphabetical order, are nine October books I really want to find time to read. They span a range of genres, but nonetheless, each one calls to me. Which one would you read first?

Bitter Orange by Claire Fuller (Tin House Books; October 9). Quick take: This is a thriller set in an isolated English country manor in the late 1960s. An architecture student gets involved with the friendly couple living just below her. Are they as perfect and fun as they seem? Why I want to read this: There has been much good buzz and several starred reviews. I like the setting and the time period, and I enjoy a good psychological thriller. Opening line: "They must think I don’t have long left because today they allow the vicar in."

The Collector's Apprentice by B. A. Shapiro (Algonquin; October 16). Quick take: Set in 1920s Paris and Philadelphia this is the story of a Belgian woman accused of a crime committed by her ex-lover. She is determined to recover her father's stolen art and prove her innocence; along the way she crosses paths with contemporary artists and writers. Why I want to read this: The short version is that I love Shapiro's books and totally trust Algonquin. I also love books set in the twenties and always learn something about the art world from Shapiro's novels. Opening line: "Paulien is aware that being banished to Paris with 200 francs in her pocket isn’t the worst of circumstances."

Dracul by Dacre Stoker and J.D. Barker (Putnam, October 2). Quick take: Set in 1868 in Ireland, England, and Germany. Here's the publisher's tag line: The prequel to Dracula, inspired by notes and texts left behind by the author . . . a supernatural thriller . . . and the tale of the enigmatic woman who connects them. Why I want to read this: Simple curiosity has drawn me to this title. Also, I'm not afraid to admit that I like a good Gothic tale. I understand a movie deal is in the making. Opening lines: "Bram stares at the door. Sweat trickles down his creased forehead."

Go to My Grave by Catriona McPherson (Minotaur Books; October 23). Quick take: This is a standalone Gothic thriller set in a Galloway bed and breakfast where a group of friends are gathering for a reunion. It involves long-buried secrets that are starting to surface. Why I want to read this: I love a Scottish setting and the idea that the past will come back to haunt you. And you have to agree that October is a great month for a good mystery/thriller. Opening lines: "The house was a held breath. Its ten empty rooms waited, polished like a bowl of apples."

In the Hurricane's Eye by Nathaniel Philbrick (Viking; October 16). Quick take: The subtitle gives you a clue: "Genius of George Washington and the Victory at Yorktown." Set in 1781, this is an examination of how Washington turned a series of defeats into a much needed victory for the struggling new nation. Why I want to read this: Two things: I'm interested in American history and Philbrick is the author who makes it all accessible and interesting. To be honest, I'll probably listen to the audiobook, while following along in the eBook. Opening lines: "When France entered the American Revolutionary War in the spring of 1778, George Washington dared to hope his new ally had put victory within reach. Finally, the British navy’s hold on the Atlantic Seaboard was about to be broken."

The Kennedy Debutante by Kerri Maher (Berkely; October 2). Quick take: Set in England and America, this novel is about Kick Kennedy, the rebellious daughter who became a London sensation when her father was the U.S. ambassador to the UK before the start of World War II. Why I want to read this: I don't know much about Kick, and I'm interested because she tried to follow her own path, including falling for a guy who wasn't Catholic. I'd like to know more about her. Opening lines: "Presentation day. Finally, Kick thought as soon as she opened her eyes that morning."

The Library Book by Susan Orlean (Simon & Schuster; October 16, 2018). Quick take: Set in Los Angeles in 1986, this entry in the true crime genre is about the burning of the city's public library, which destroyed or damaged more than a million books. Why I want to read this: I usually like true crime and investigative journalism. I also want to know if the author ever finds the answers to these questions: Did someone set the fire on purpose? If so, who was it? And why was the library the target? Opening line: "Even in Los Angeles, where there is no shortage of remarkable hairdos, Harry Peak attracted attention."

Marilla of Green Gables by Sarah McCoy (William Morrow; October 23). Quick take: Set in Prince Edward Island in the late 1800s and inspired by the Anne of Green Gables books, this is the story of Marilla--her heartaches and sacrifices; her strengths and joys--in the years before the red-headed orphan changed her life forever. Why I want to read this: I'm a lifelong Anne fan, so I need to know Marilla's story. I have faith that McCoy is just the author who can bring this beloved character alive. [Full disclosure: although I've never met her in real life, I consider Sarah a friend.] Opening line: "It’d been a rain-chilled May that felt more winter than spring."

Winter in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand (Little, Brown; October 9). Quick take: Set in contemporary times in Iowa and the Caribbean, this is a story of love and betrayal and loss and new beginnings as a woman in a happy marriage learns her husband is not all who she thought he was. Why I want to read this: I've always enjoyed Hilderbrand's summer beach reads, and I've come to look forward to her "off-season" books. I was excited to learn of this first entry in a new series, which is not set on Nantucket. This sounds like the perfect way to escape holiday stress. Opening lines: "It’s the first night of the new year. Irene Steele has spent the day in a state of focused productivity."

Let me know which ones are on your fall reading list.

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