Maybe it’s just me, but one of the best ways to pass the time at the beach is reading a good page turner. For all the avid readers out there, I’ve put together a list of the top books coming out this season. Whether you’re into psychological thrillers, mysteries or romance, there’s something for everyone on this summer reading list.
The Summer Job by Lizzy Dent (May 18)
Scotland always holds a special place in my heart after Outlander. If you’re looking for a book with Scottish vibes, you’ll want to get a copy of The Summer Job. The plot is centered around a girl named Birdy who took a summer job at the highland Scottish hotel that her best friend turned down. How long can she keep up pretending to be someone she’s not? And can she stop herself from falling for a guy who doesn’t know her real identity? This is a hilarious love story of a woman who finds herself in the most unexpected circumstances.
The Photographer by Mary Dixie Carter (May 25)
As a photographer for the most notorious families in Manhattan, Delta Dawn knows the deepest and darkest secrets of NYC’s elite. When she lands a gig with Amelia Straub, she feels a closeness that she’s never felt before and fantasizes what it would be like to be part of their glamourous world. Befriending the family is a dream come true until she learns Amelia has a hidden agenda: to make sure Delta can never leave.
The President’s Daughter by James Patterson and Bill Clinton (June 7)
This list wouldn’t be complete without Patterson – my favorite author for beach reads. In his second collaboration with Clinton, this book is about former Navy SEAL and Commander in Chef Matthew Keating on a mission to rescue his abducted teenage daughter. As with most of his books, you’ll be kept on the edge of your seat from start to finish.
Her Last Breath by Hillary Davidson (July 1)
When Deirdre’s sister Caroline dies, she’s left devastated and confused. A few days prior Caroline sent Deirdre an ominous note warning that her death wouldn’t be an accident and her husband Theo murdered his first wife. When Deirdre questions Theo, she learns her sister was also keeping secrets – an affair with another man. With so many missing pieces of the puzzle, Deirdre goes on a million to find out what really happened.
The Guilt Trip by Sandie Jones (August 3)
A destination wedding is supposed to be the dream…but what happens when you learn your closest friends are keeping secrets? Secrets that have the power to wreak havoc and rip apart lifelong friendships. If you’re a fan of soap operas, this is the book equivalent.
Billy Summers by Stephen King (August 3)
All hail the king of horror! (and my favorite author) This book is about Billy Summers, a well-known sniper and assassin whose mission is to take down the bad guys. But now he’s ready to get out of the game. And with only one more job left, things take a surprising turn.
While We Were Dating by Jasmine Guillory (July 13)
Ad-man Ben Stephens is the ultimate bachelor. Work is his life and he wants to keep it that way. But everything changes when he lands an ad campaign featuring gorgeous film star, Anna Gardiner.
What begins as flirtatious banter develops into something much deeper after Ben helps Anna during a family emergency. Secrets were revealed, true feelings emerged and there was no turning back.
But when the time comes to make their relationship public, will Ben be happy with the spotlight always on Anna? Do they have what it takes to make it work once the cameras stop rolling?
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid (June 1)
Calling all 80s lovers! This book is set in California in the 1980s during which the famous Riva family throws their notorious end-of-summer party. But the night doesn’t go according to plan, with secrets brought to the surface and a fire nobody knows who started.
In My Dreams I Hold a Knife by Ashley Winstead (August 3)
If you love murder mysteries, you’ll want to add this one to your Amazon cart.
Ten years ago, a murder on campus tore Jessica Miller and her friends apart. Still unsolved a decade later, the friends come together again for a reunion. Except the reunion is a setup – a setup to find out who the real killer is. This is a story shows the dark side of friendships, love and betrayal.
The Nature of Middle Earth by J.R.R. Tolkien (May 27)
Written by the master of the fantasy genre, this book is a collection of previously unpublished essays. The Nature of Middle Earth dives deeper into Middle Earth, the kingdom of Gondor, elvish reincarnation and more. If you’re a fan of Lord of the Rings, Unfinished Tales and The Silmarillion, you’ll enjoy Tolkien’s final writings on Middle Earth.
The Maidens by Alex Michaelides (June 15)
Combining Greek mythology with suspense, murder and obsession, The Maidens is a story about one woman’s quest to prove Edward Fosca, Greek tragedy professor is a murderer.
When group therapist Mariana’s students start turning up dead, she starts to put the pieces together that the professor is responsible. Unfortunately, proving he did it is no easy feat – he’s very well loved by female members of a secret society known as “The Maidens.” But Mariana is determined to stop the killer and will do whatever it takes, including risking her own life, to make sure nobody else winds up dead.
Somebody’s Daughter by Ashley C. Ford (June 1)
There’s been a lot of buzz surrounding this memoir. Ashley C. Ford shares details of her difficult childhood – specifically, what it was like having an incarcerated father. Somebody’s Daughter is a story of one woman’s journey of self-discovery, finding a way to put the past behind her and heal.
Maybe It's Just Me 