True confession: I’m not a fan of summer. It’s hot. I don’t like hot.
But it’s a great time to lounge by the pool or the lake or – let’s be honest – in the air-conditioning and lose yourself in a fun read.
Here are some the books on my summer reading list:
BIG SKY, by Kate Atkinson
I’ve been a Kate Atkinson fan forever, and I’m glad she’s brought Jackson Brodie back for another novel. I never know quite where’s she’s going, but the storylines all converge in the end. Finishing one of her books offers a visceral satisfaction, like a chord resolving in a musical piece. I’m always astonished that she’s managed to pull it off.
THE BIRD BOYS, by Lisa Sandlin
I’m so grateful I was assigned a review of Lisa Sandlin’s debut novel, The Do-Right, in 2015. It’s one of those books that sticks with you. I joke that I’ve recommended it to everyone I know and a few people I don’t. Now her duo of detective Tom Phelan and secretary Delpha Wade are back at it, working to solve crimes in 1970s Beaumont, Texas. This one’s as full of humor and insight into human nature as the first. Later this summer, I’ll have a Q and A with the author in The Dallas Morning News. This book will be released in August.
AFTER THE END, by Clare Mackintosh
Here’s how I discovered Clare Mackintosh. I was stuck at an airport (delayed flight) and needed a book recommendation. I looked at the summer reading suggestions from The Minneapolis Star-Tribune (here’s this year’s) and chose I Let You Go and downloaded it on the spot. My travel day ended up being so long that I finished the whole thing. I’ve been a fan ever since. This one is a departure for her, not a mystery. I’ll be interested to see how I like it.
What are you looking forward to reading this summer?