This time of year, I'm always being asked - WHAT'S A GOOD BOOK TO READ???
Between road trips, vacations and lazy days in the shade, it seems like everyone agrees that it's the perfect time to immerse yourself in a great book.
So in response to popular demand, I'm introducing....
For the next three months, join me as we explore new genres, discover new authors and bask in the glory of love... mystery... adventure... Of course you can pick whatever book you want in each category but I'm going to give some recommendations... you know me. I can't RESIST giving book recommendations...
Ready? Let's start with what everyone's been obssessing about!
A royal book!
I've done a lot of talking about the Royal wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry this spring, including hosting several inspiring authors of royal romance. Here are some of their awesome books:
A Princess in Theory by Alyssa Cole Amazon || iBooks
Royally Wed by Teri Wilson Amazon || iBooks
Command Me by Geneva Lee Amazon || iBooks
The Royal We - Heather Cocks & Jessica Morgan Amazon || iBooks
BEACH BOOKS
Every time I do the lightning round in a podcast interview I ask people if they prefer a book with abs on the cover or a beach scene. So let's pick some books with beach scenes this summer. My recommendations...
Kristy Woodson Harvey's Peachtree Bluff series: Amazon || iBooks
All the Breaking Waves by Kerry Lonsdale: Amazon || iBooks
Island of Sweet Pies and Soldiers by Sara Ackerman: Amazon || iBooks
New To You Genre
Branch out this summer. Do you want to try...
A mystery? Try Deanna Raybourn's Victorian ones or Gigi Pandian's Treasure hunt ones!
Fantasy? Try the new series by Jeffe Kennedy or L. Penelope
Historical women's fiction? The Alice Network by Kate Quinn
Paranormal romance & Urban Fantasy? The Shadowchasers' series by Seressia Glass or anything by (my all-time favorite) Ilona Andrews
Book from a Former Women With Books Guest
I've already mentioned a bunch on this page! But check out the Women With Books episodes for a deeper dive.
A Diverse / Inclusive Read
It's really important to me, as a reader, an author and a podcast host to promote and recommend books by all types of authors. Many of the recommendations I'm making in this post include authors of color, but for even more books check out...
WOC Romance
20 Books by LGBT Authors You May Not Have Read...but should
Debut Author
This is another branch of the Women With Books mission statement, to support debut authors. To that end, I'm very excited to suggest these authors who all debuted in the past year!
Alexis Daria's debut, Take the Lead: Amazon || iBooks
Kate Clayborn's debut, Beginner's Luck: Amazon || iBooks
Jasmine Guillory's debut, The Wedding Date: Amazon || iBooks
Madame de Boudoir's debut, King of the Sea Amazon || iBooks
A Book that Inspired a Movie/ TV Show
I always love reading books that will be or have already been interpreted on the big (or little) screen. Part of it is keeping up with the zeitgeist, participating in the discussions at the water cooler. And part of it is my analytical brain that likes to see the differences in adaptations. Either way, I enjoyed BOTH the books and the adaptations of the first and third of these (and I'll definitely be buying a ticket to Crazy Rich Asians!)
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty: Amazon || iBooks
Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan: Amazon || iBooks
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline: Amazon || iBooks
A Book with A Pretty Dress on the Cover
As I mentioned above, I always ask guests if they prefer abs covers or beach scene covers. But you know what my favorite type of cover is? Pretty Dress Covers. And these three are GORGEOUS, don't you think?? (Another favorite is Deanna Raybourns' Lady Julia Grey series, mentioned above.)
Chanel Cleeton's Next Year in Havana
Taylor Jenkins Reid's Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
Sonali Dev's A Bollywood Affair
So. Are you ready? Inspired? Feeling competitive? I'd love to hear what you're reading this summer and what you recommend! Comment below or on any of my social media and use the hashtag: #WWBSummerReads to update your friends and the Women With Books community on what you're reading this summer! (And check out the podcast where I talk about all this!)
AND... while you're updating your TBR pile, make sure you reserve your copy of my next release... THE ROYAL RUNAWAY! Anyone who has good taste in books will enjoy it!
