June Reading Recommendations

Summer officially starts tomorrow, so I think it’s safe to say that all vicarious readers are more than likely knee-deep in their seasonal TBR list. Cheers to that! I’m happy to share that I’ve read several books that have been on my radar for a while and they didn’t disappoint. I’ve picked three of my faves to share in this month’s post:

Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro: This is a really incredible story, unlike anything I’ve ever read before. Told from the perspective of an artificial friend (AF), we follow an extremely emotionally advanced robot named Klara as she provides companionship to a sick child. Klara is more observant than most human beings and notices even the tiniest details about everyone she interacts with. One of the major questions you’ll ask yourself while reading this book is: can we teach ourselves how to feel certain emotions simply through observing? Another one is: what does it really mean to be human? Themes also include the overall meaning of love, friendship, trust, and companionship. I can’t recommend this one enough.

For fans of Haruki Murakami 

The Library Book by Susan Orlean: This was actually my very first Orlean book. A friend of mine recommended it to me years ago and finally, it made its way into my hands. Part memoir, part true-crime story, this book will keep you flipping its pages nonstop from start to finish. Through uncovering what really happened when the Los Angeles Central Library was caught on fire in 1986, Orlean remembers what connected her to libraries during different stages in her life. Something I really enjoyed about this book is that it wasn’t just about the crime itself, but it was also about the character behind the person who set the fire, Harry Peak. We learn more about him and his background through Orlean’s presented research, which allows readers to come to their own conclusions on how he was driven to commit such an act. The Library Book is a tribute to good research, giving us the facts that let us do the analysis. 

For fans of Cathy Pickens 

Still Points by Barry Lee Swanson: Fans of historical fiction, this is for you! Swanson crafts a beautiful, thought-provoking war-time love story centered on the life of one of his actual family members, Philip Zumwalt. Zumwalt is a vibrant and creative music teacher in a small Illinois town, when he meets Elinor Robinson. The two fall in love, stirring up dreams and big plans for the future. However, plans are put on hold as Zumwalt enlists in the Army Air Force during WWII. It’s incredibly heartbreaking and difficult to read in some places as Zumwalt finds himself in dangerous situations that cause him to question everything he thought he knew. The main themes in this book include sacrifice, love, and honor. If you’re anything like me, you’ll cry at least 7 times while reading it. 

For fans of Ariel Lawhorn 

So, we have a true-crime story, a historical fiction masterpiece, and a unique tale of love and what it means to be human. Depending on how adventurous I’m feeling, I might dig into a little horror next month. We’ll see!

May Reading Recommendations

May always seems to be the month that humid air decides to start creeping into our days, forcing us to decide if we want to stay inside where there’s A/C, or get as close as possible to a body of water. There’s simply no other way to survive a summer in the South. Luckily, both locations are ideal spots to read, so maybe I have yet another reason to be thankful for growing up in the Southern region. I always start mapping out my summer reading list in May, and if you’re the same way, you might find some of this month’s recommendations worthwhile.

Here we go:

The Maidens by Alex Michaeledes

If you, too, couldn’t put down Michaeledes’ The Silent Patient when it debuted in 2020, then you’ll love this novel just as much. It’s another fast-paced mystery/thriller with so many twists and turns that you can’t possibly know what the outcome is going to be until the final chapter. The story follows Mariana Andros, an intelligent therapist who is determined to find out who murdered her niece’s college friend. Mariana treks out to Cambridge University to help her niece recover from the tragedy and ends up in the middle of the investigation. She uncovers more than she ever imagined about the school’s culture – think secret societies, betrayal, and abnormal teacher/student relationships. All the components for an engaging summer vacation read.

For fans of: Harlan Coben and Gillian Flynn 

Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney

I had to throw this one in here with the release of the new Hulu adaptation of this novel coming out over the weekend. I’m a huge Sally Rooney fan. Her stories move at a pace that allows the reader to really think about what’s happening, what the characters are learning about themselves and the people around them through dialogue. Conversations with Friends is about four people who find themselves in the middle of a complicated relationship with one another and shares what can happen when boundaries are pushed, feelings evolve, and bonds break. Much of the novel is conversational (which, given the title, makes sense) and makes you feel like you’re in the same room as the characters, ultimately observing the meaning of friendship.

For fans of: Anne Enright and Megan Nolan

A Little Hope by Ethan Joella

This is a quiet little book, Ethan Joella’s first. I read it in an afternoon and think you probably will, too. Joella created a great cast of characters living in a small town in Connecticut, whose lives are all intertwined in some way. At the center is Greg Tyler, who was recently diagnosed with a rare and aggressive cancer, turning his life upside down. Everything that Greg and his community once felt was certain, no longer feels that way. A Little Hope paints a picture of what human resilience looks like and reaffirms the idea that we all get by with a little help from our friends.

For fans of: Sarah Vaughn and Cameron Wright

If you have books for us to add to our summer reading lists, don’t hesitate to let us know and we’ll share with our listeners, too. Happy (almost) summer reading!

April Reading Recommendations

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, so my mission with writing this post is to dive into survivor stories that educated and moved me. We’re fortunate to have so many courageous people coming forward to share their experiences overcoming the trauma that sexual assault experiences cause, to raise awareness for survivors and current victims. This is what helps us get closer to putting an end to this behavior altogether. Yet another thing storytelling does for us – creates conversation around, and raises awareness for, important causes.

Here are my favorites:

Tell Me Everything: The Story of a Private Investigation by Erika Krouse: This book is part memoir, part true crime, written by an award-winning fiction writer turned private investigator. Erika Krouse began working for a lawyer from her hometown on a case surrounding a local college’s recruiting process for their D1 football team. Krouse uncovers an astonishing culture that preys on college women, led by a group of powerful men in college sports. As she works her way through the case, she also processes her own experiences with sexual assault. She was abused by a person in her family who she refers to as X throughout the book. This is an educational, emotional, and satisfying read, that made me cry tears of sadness and then joy until the very end.

Beads: A Memoir of Falling Apart and Putting Yourself Back Together Again by Rachael Brooks: This is a book that needs to be stocked in college campus bookstores everywhere. Written by NC author, Rachael Brooks, Beads share her survivor story as a fresh UNC Chapel Hill graduate. Brooks was heading out on her next adventure in Washington, D.C. when she was violently raped in the back of a car that pretended to be a taxicab. What followed were years of courtroom battles, traumatizing encounters with law enforcement, searching for the right coping mechanisms, facing the person who assaulted her, and more. Beads is a story of bravery, told through the eyes of a woman going through the difficult process of healing and ultimately, surviving.

Know My Name by Chanel Miller: Chanel Miller was the young woman at the center of the high-profile Brock Turner rape case, where she was assaulted behind a dumpster in a dark alleyway. At the time of the courtroom case, she was known only as Emily Doe. In her memoir, we learn who Miller is as she reclaims her name and identity through the power of words. Miller battled difficult emotions such as shame and depression in the aftermath of the rape trial (where Turner was sentenced to a minimal 6 months in prison). Know My Name is about surviving excruciatingly painful experiences – not just how we do that, but that it’s possible.

For those of you who are interested in how you can support survivors of sexual assault, I encourage you to visit the nation’s largest sexual violence prevention organization, RAINN here.

Until next month, happy reading!

March Reading Recommendations

Spring has sprung! With each season, I always come up with a new excuse to spend extra time reading. This month, it’s the warmer temps, fresh springtime air, and sunshine that make me want to grab a stack of books and plant myself under a tree. There’s nothing better than finding a reading tree to sit under with a good book and, in my case, both of my massive Goldendoodles to snuggle up with.

Two out of three of this month’s selections are longer, so I kept this list shorter. Here we go:

Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott

I read Bird by Bird every spring. It’s the perfect book to lift a creative person out of the winter cave of darkness, and into the springtime light. Part writing guide and part memoir, Bird by Bird shares actionable tips to help writers get words from their minds onto the written page. One of the hardest parts about writing is finding the inspiration and motivation to write. Lamott helps us overcome some of the difficulties of being a writer with simple techniques, shared in her classic quippy style. One of my favorite exercises from this book is to write about your school lunch experiences. Who knew how much you could learn about yourself, and the people around you, by reminiscing on the dreaded cafeteria days? By studying ourselves, we study the world around us, which allows us create meaningful stories.

For fans of Laurie Colwin 

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

This book has been on my TBR list for approximately 12.45 years, and I just now was able to turn the final page. It’s long, at a smooth 544 pages, but it’s very, very good. The novel follows a tight-knit group of Classics students at a high-end New England college as they navigate their way through life led by their devoted professor, Julian. When their passion of Greek history leads them to do a terrible thing, each student walks down a path that brings them to their own individual reckonings. This novel is a thorough piece of writing on human nature and ultimately, good vs. evil. How does one cross over the line of being a good person, to being a bad one? Are any of us 100% evil? These are all questions you will ask yourself after you’ve finished The Secret History.

For Fans of Anthony Doerr 

Circe by Madeline Miller

If you’re a sucker for Greek mythology, this one is for you. Madeline Miller crafts a magnificent tale, giving one of the most misunderstood enchantresses the story she deserves. We learn about Circe’s upbringing and life experiences, giving us more background on why she decided to start poisoning the men who sailed to her island. You will recognize a number of characters in her story, from the great goddess of War, Athena, to the beloved literary traveler, Odysseus. The biggest takeaway from reading Circe is that we are much more than our actions – everyone has a story.

For fans of Natalie Haynes

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, so next month’s recommendations will highlight books that share survivor stories. First up on my reading list is Erika Krouse’s Tell Me Everything. ‘Til next month!

February Reading Recommendations

So far, February hasn’t let me down in terms of good books. Maybe it’s the slow-paced, chilly days we experience as winter (finally) wraps itself up, but this month I’ve had a strong preference for quiet, thought-provoking stories.

That said, drumroll please, find my February favorites below:

The Magnolia Palace by Fiona Davis

The magic of Fiona Davis’ new novel lies in its cast of characters. The story is told from the perspectives of two women who are tied to the mysterious Frick family mansion in different ways. One woman lives and works in the mansion as a private secretary in 1916, and the other stumbles across the landmark in 1966 while on a modeling shoot. Throughout the novel, both characters’ lives intertwine as they uncover family secrets hidden within the Frick mansion’s walls. Part mystery, part family drama, The Magnolia Palace will keep you entertained all the way through.

For fans of Marian Kamali and Mirielle West

The Friend by Sigred Nunez

This was my very first Sigred Nunez Book! At just 226 pages, this is a quick story that will linger in your mind long after you devour the last page. At its core, The Friend has two themes that hold hands throughout the novel: grief and friendship. When a writer’s dear friend passes away, she reluctantly adopts his Great Dane, Apollo. The dog is a constant in her life as she navigates her way through the healing process following a heavy loss. Apollo grieves the loss of his master just as deeply as the writer herself. They form a bond like no other through this shared experience. Warning: you will cry approximately 18 times while reading, but it’s totally worth it.

For fans of Ellen Cooney and Joan Didion

Beautiful World, Where Are You? By Sally Rooney

Sally Rooney is one of my very favorite writers. Beautiful World, Where Are You? is similar to her other books (Normal People, Conversations with Friends) in its conversational tone and willingness to dive into contemplative topics such as life after death, addiction, depression, and meaningful relationships. The novel follows four individuals who are looking for something. Every other chapter reads in the form of a letter between best friends, sharing their innermost thoughts about what makes the world beautiful. Big ideas are shared in a quiet whisper throughout this story. I took notes the entire time.

For fans of Sheila Heti and Stephanie Danier

South of the Border, West of the Sun by Haruki Murakami

Haruki Murakami is the King of my Heart. He knows how to string words together in a way that even his longest novels feel like poetry, introducing ideas and concepts that will live in your brain long after you’ve finished the book. South of the Border, West of the Sun is in part a coming-of-age story, following young Hajime through life as he learns who he is during his developmental teenage years. We’re with him as he experiences his first love, makes his first mistakes, learns his dating style, gets married, and makes his way back to his first love again. It’s a beautiful book that will make you smile quietly to yourself as you read, remembering all your own “firsts.”

For fans of: Ishiguro Kazuo and Alice Hoffman

Spring is coming! March 2022 brings long awarded novels from authors such as Rebecca Searle, Melissa Fu, and Kate Quinn. Lots of good stuff to come and I can’t wait to connect with y’all about it. Have recs you’d like to share with our podcast family? Share them in the comments!