Summer Reading!

DEBORAH CROMBIE: How did it get to be midsummer already??? But here we are full on in the season of beach reads, so I thought it was time for a "What We're Reading" check in. 

I have not been the reading poster girl lately–although, come to think of it, maybe I have, because my two favorite recent reads have been the advanced copy of Rhys's THE CASTLE IN THE GLEN (out 8/4) and Jenn's A SUMMER SHARE (which is THE perfect beach read, trust me on this,) both of which I adored.  Another recent favorite (in an absolutely wonderful audio edition) was YOU ARE HERE by David Nicholls, about two lonely people being thrown together in a coast-to-coast walk across England. Nicholls writes the best dialogue, and the narrators were Lee Ingleby and Lydia Leonard so this was perfect for listening.

I'm a huge fan of the English crime writer Peter Grainger and his D.C. Smith/King's Lake books set in Norfolk, and the new one, SOME SORT OF JUSTICE, was terrific. (This was audio, too. His narrator, Gildart Jackson, is one of the best.) There is also a new Jenny Colgan, MEET ME AT THE SEASIDE COTTAGES also in audio. I love these Colgan books set in the very far north of Scotland, but I'm not a big fan of the narrator, so maybe better in print.

I read the new Matt Haig, THE MIDNIGHT TRAIN after seeing him in person in Dallas. I know this book is a world-wide best seller, but I have to say I found this one a bit of a slog. I was disappointed that it wasn't as original as his last book, THE LIFE IMPOSSIBLE, which was one of my tops reads this last year.

And one more, for those of you who love food writing and just wonderful writing, there's a new cookbook from Ella Risbridger, THE KITCHEN BOOK, which I ordered from the UK as it's not available here until next year. (Shipped free from Blackwell's!) This is a gorgeous book! Now, if I could just manage to actually try the recipes…

And this week I'm looking forward to Lucy's A DELICOUS DECEPTION arriving on my doorstep tomorrow!

How about it dear fellow REDs? What's on your nightstand this summer?

JENN McKINLAY: Thanks, Debs! I’m in the thick of a non-fiction bender. I have Lucy’s A DELICIOUS DECEPTION on pre-order (coming tomorrow) as well as Rhys’s THE CASTLE IN THE GLEN (Aug) and Hank’s MOTHER DAUGHTER SISTER STRANGER (Sept), but while I impatiently wait for those gems, I am listening to non-fiction, specifically THE WAR OF ART by Steven Pressfield and WELL ENDOWED by Vivian Tu (don’t get excited it’s about finances not boobs). LOL. I’m also reading cookbooks–why? No idea. But I’m enjoying the old/weird recipes in B. Dylan Hollis’s BAKING YESTERYEAR. Clearly, the AZ heat has gotten to me. 

LUCY BURDETTE: We sound like a Greek chorus, but I too loved loved loved THE CASTLE IN THE GLEN and THE SUMMER SHARE! The bad thing about getting an advance copy is that you’ve already read it when the book comes out! I’m about two-thirds through MISSED CONNECTIONS by Aimee K. Runyan, a story about a woman chef who desperately wants to become a Michelin reviewer. She’s made some mistakes in her life, and for reasons unknown is able to time travel back to those moments, relive them, and figure out what she might have changed. It’s very very food-oriented, which I of course am enjoying a lot! I also read MORE THAN ENOUGH by Anna Quinlan and UNLIKELY ANIMALS by Annie Hartnett. Liked them both very much, though not my favorites of either author. Next I have waiting for me WHISTLER by Ann Patchett and PIGLET by Lottie Hazel. It’s been a good reading summer.

Ps Jenn, B. Dylan Hollis has a cameo in the Paris book I’m almost done writing. My French chef character is not impressed with his shenanigans…

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Oh my goodness, we are just smart readers who know what we love! Castle in the Glen and The Summer Share, those can carry anyone through any rainy weekend with much delight! And thank you for the kind words about MOTHER DAUGHTER SISTER STRANGER–so excited about it. 

What I’m reading. I just interviewed the marvelous John Searles, who wrote SINGLE GIRLS, a fictionalized biography of Helen Gurley Brown and how she made Cosmopolitan what it was.. He worked at Cosmopolitan for many years, and completely knows the scoop, and knew her well. And loved her. And that comes through in the book. 

(Such a pivotal moment in time, and it’s a fun frothy book with a deeply meaningful undercurrent. Helen Gurley Brown changed our lives in so many ways, and as controversial as she was, she was a brave and groundbreaking character.)

What else? Several of my local author friends may be new to you, and I am delighted to introduce you to Kimberly Hensel Lowrance, whose compelling and relatable new WHAT REMAINS OF YOU is an Amazon chart topper right now. It’s about a widow who finds a letter from her husband left behind wherein he confesses to a terrible crime. But doesn't say what it was.  Will she go try to find out the truth? (Of course she will, or there wouldn’t be a book, right?)

And Joseph Moldover has a new book called TO THE END OF RECKONING where a son comes home to take care of his brilliant but recently brain -injured father, and together they are a touching and wonderful Holmes and Watson as they solve a murder that happened nearby. Such good writing! 

I am delighted to introduce you to them. Absolutely standing ovations, both.

And lucky me :-) I have advanced copies of Lisa Gardner‘s new YOU’LL BE SORRY, Tess Gerritsen‘s new THE SHADOW FRIENDS,  Lisa Scottoline’s THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING, and  Robyn Gigl’s ALL WE HIDE.

Oh, and did I ever tell you about Nicole Blades’  WOULD I LIE TO YOU?  Imagine a wife and mom in the suburbs–who, in her secret  parallel life, would give Jason Bourne a run for his money.  So fun.

It strikes me, in these what are we reading posts that my reading lists are much different from many of yours. So interesting.

DEBS: That's what makes it fun, Hank!

RHYS BOWEN: I’ve been on vacation in Canada and brought my Kindle to do lots of reading. However the day I arrived so did the page proofs for my next Royal Spyness.  I worked through them, then the page proofs for the next Molly came. Grrr. Now I’m starting to read my summer beach read choices. I’ll be on a beach in San Diego and hope to read them in peace.

I realize I can’t take anything too tense, dark or dramatic at the moment so I’m going with whimsy. I have the MUSEUM OF SECOND CHANCES by Jo Leevers…about a woman who has a museum of found objects on a beach. And Kate Quinn’s THE ASTRAL LIBRARY, and then CALL OF THE CAMINO, as I’d always wanted to do that walk.  

HALLIE EPHRON: I’ve been rereading some old favorites. A wonderful collection of short stories by Tobias Wolff (OUR STORY BEGINS). “A Bullet in the Brain” is one of my favorites, about a dyspeptic fellow who gets antsy waiting on line at the bank. It’s a tour de force of viewpoint.

And just cracked open Caitlin Mullen’s PLEASE SEE US. Her new book, HEATHER, just got a rave review from Sarah Weinman in the New York Times, so I wanted to see what the fuss is about. So far I’m impressed… a poetic page turner. 

And waiting in the wings, I picked up a copy of Richard Osman’s WE SOLVE MYSTERIES. Comic relief. I’ve enjoyed all of his novels (THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB, etc.) that I’ve read so far. 

DEBS: I've heard so much about HEATHER, Hallie. Can't wait to see what you think when you've finished it.

JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: Add me to the chorus enjoying Rhys and Jenn’s upcoming books - and a reminder to readers that pre-orders make a huge difference to authors!

One of my pre-orders is Carol Goodman’s OUR MARRIAGE IS MURDER, coming out on July 21. I adore Carol’s writing, and this looks like another  fun “murders and mystery writers” tale, after last year’s WRITERS AND LIARS.

After reading many glowing reviews, I got THE PARADISE PROBLEM by Christina Lauren. Years old marriage of convenience that has to pass for the real thing in order for the hero to inherit millions? Sign me up.

My SF read right now is THE REPUBLIC OF MEMORY by Mahmud El Sayed, about the dawning rebellion of the crew of a century ship as they question why they’re in service to their cryosleeping masters. SF fans, don’t confuse it with Arkady Martine’s excellent A MEMORY CALLED EMPRIRE (which I did, to my embarrassment, when asking about it in a bookstore!)

DEBS: Readers, we can't wait to hear your suggestion, so we can make even longer to-read lists! I've already added half a dozen books to mine!