Summer reads

Even though we have one month left of summer, there is still plenty of time to get in your favorite books.

Whether you yearn for a tearjerker or are simply a chick-lit devotee, my list of awesomely addictive books will keep you enthralled through Labor Day. My recommendations cover a gamut of page-turners, including John Green’s soon-to-be-adapted hit, and Emily Giffin’s unconventional story of love and loyalty.

 

Emily Giffin, the beloved author of such novels as Something Borrowed and Where We Belong, returns with an extraordinary story of love and loyalty—and an unconventional heroine struggling to reconcile both. The One & Only is unequivocally Giffin’s most cinematic novel to date. Friday Night Lights meets When Harry Met Sally… (I have high hopes George Clooney will play hunky Coach Clive Carr on the big screen!) 😉

All Fall Down is the story of a woman’s slide into addiction and struggle to find her way back up again. With a sparkling comedic touch and tender, true-to-life characterizations, this tale of empowerment and redemption is Jennifer Weiner’s most poignant, timely, and triumphant story yet.

Tempting Fate has been artfully described as a Scarlet Letter for the 21st century. Jane Green expertly depicts a woman trapped between contentment and temptation, crafting an insightful look into married life… A spellbinding triumph!

 

Insightful, brave, irreverent, and raw–The Fault in Our Stars is #1 NYT bestselling author John Green’s most ambitious and heartbreaking work yet, brilliantly exploring the funny, thrilling, and tragic business of being alive and in love. Read the book before you see it on the big screen—and bring tissues! LOTS of tissues…

Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke (BFFs for 20 years!) blend their voices flawlessly and hilariously reminding us that even though the grass often looks greener in our friends’ lives, nobody gets “happily ever after” unless they go after it. Your Perfect Life is crafty, quirky, fresh, and ultimately, inspiring!

From its title to its pool-blue cover, The Vacationers seems destined to accompany travelers this summer, and as a beach read, it exceeds the mark: Emma Straub’s novel is a straightforward confection told with literary flair—a pleasure you don’t have to feel guilty about.

The Theory Of Opposites follows the trials and tribulations of Willa Chandler-Golden, daughter of a top self-help book author, as her marriage, her job and almost everything else in her seemingly stable life goes off the rails. Allison Winn Scotch’s sharp and witty sensation has been picked up by Jennifer Garner’s production company. A must-read before it hits the big screen!

A touching new novel from bestselling author Elin Hilderbrand in which a woman sets out to find love for those closest to her… before it’s too late. Hilderbrand’s up-front style pulls the reader into the minds of her gorgeously nuanced characters leaving us longing for more.

Internationally bestselling author Sarah Pekkanen delivers a lively, compulsively readable novel about the intricacies of marriage and commitment–and how small kindnesses can restore familial bonds after an estrangement. (Devoured this gem in 48 hours!)

Emily Liebert has a gift for constructing true-to-life, humorous discourse. You Knew Me When is an authentic novel full of nostalgia. The perfect read for anyone who has ever longed to reconcile with an old friend. This novel resonated with me long after finishing.

Internationally bestselling author Catherine McKenzie’s latest book may be her best yet. Hidden explores the interconnecting lives of a man, his wife, and a woman who may or may not be his mistress. Filled with nail-biting tension until the very last page… The ending will leave you speechless!

NYT bestselling author Sarah Jio delivers an invigorating blend of mystery and romance! Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown (Goodnight Songs) is an adored childhood classic, but its real origins are lost to history. In Goodnight June, Sarah Jio offers an enthralling and earnest take on how the “great green room” might have come to be. Delightful and uplifting! Lingers long after the last page…

 

Additional authors I recommend without reservation: Stacey Ballis, Caprice Crane, Amy Hatvany, L. Alison Heller, Jen Lancaster, Kaira Rouda, and Susan Wiggs.

 

* all of these glamourous books can be purchased at your local bookstore or on amazon.com

 

Happy Reading!

xo

 

 

 
Jennifer O’Regan ~ Guest Blogger

Confessions of a Bookaholic

In addition to fostering a love of literacy within her unprivileged high school students, Jennifer has many noteworthy philanthropic accolades. During her husband’s plight with cancer – she single-handedly raised over 3,000 books for the Johns Hopkins Hospital Oncology Patient Library. Jennifer is now sharing her unbridled passion for reading via Confessions of a Bookaholic–a page dedicated to celebrating female authors.

Follow her on Facebook (Jennifer Tropea O’Regan) and Twitter (@Jenny_Oregan)