Is there anything better than reading a book on a Summer afternoon? While we may not have endless hours to laze away by the pool with our nose in a book, we are hoping to steal a few peaceful moments this Summer to relax and enjoy a great read. There are always so many great books out there to choose from that it’s hard to know where to begin! Whether you like romantic fluff, historical drama, a poignant slice of life or a great piece of non-fiction, this list has something for everyone:
1. Hallman’s mom described the The Nightingale as “a beautifully written and intense book that you cannot put down”. Kristen Hannah’s story of two very different sisters in Nazi-occupied France and their dangerous paths for survival will draw you in and keep you nervously reading until the end.
2. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japenese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo is one of those books we kept hearing people talk about again and again so we wanted to see what all the chatter was about. This book sets out to help you clear your clutter in a one-time organizing effort where anything that does not “spark joy” should be removed from your life .This best seller shows you the “unique magic of a tidy a home” and how it can inspire you daily. We are on board!
3. The Royal We by Heather Cocks is one of those guilty pleasures that you can’t put down until you are finished. A novel that reads like it was loosely based the courtship of Kate and Wills themselves, this book follows the tumultuous romance between Rebecca Porter, the quintessential American girl next door and Prince Nicholas, the future king of England. The Royal We is the perfect fun and easy beach read…let’s just say Ashley stayed up until 1:30am the other night huddled under the covers reading.
4. Steve Martin is such a talent. What can this man not do? We loved Shop Girl and An Object of Beauty is even better. This book is set in the New York art world centering around the ambitious Lacey Yeager and while you may not like Lacey, you will be compelled by her story.
5. If you enjoyed Anita Diamant’s The Red Tent you will love The Boston Girl. Told through the eyes of eighty year old Addie, this story looks back on how the events of her life and decisions she made as an intelligent and curious young jewish woman in the early 1900’s shaped who she is today. Addie recalls her adventures with compassion and a wicked sense of humor.
6. Tell the Wolves I’m Home by Carol Rifka Brunt is one of our favorite books. It follows the life of a fourteen year old girl and her beloved uncle who is dying of AIDS in the 1980’s. The story is a tender and emotional story of love and loss and definitely a tear jerker!
If you need more suggestions, check out our book club reads from earlier this year.
Happy Reading!
Hallman + Ashley
jane can 