It’s officially the time of year where I don’t leave the house unless it involves ice cream or an air conditioned bookstore. July heat is about 10x worse when you’re 7 months pregnant, but I’ve got a great excuse to sit inside and get as much of my reading list taken care of before baby girl arrives as I can. I’ve got some good recommendations for y’all this month!
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
I originally wanted to read this book because its synopsis reminded me of Mr. Robot, one of my all time favorite TV shows about a computer programmer who also doubles as a hacker trying to fight the system. I can honestly say there are a lot of similarities, so if you’re a fan of the show, pick up a copy of this book from your local indie. The novel focuses on Sam and Sadie, a pair of childhood friends and gamers who walk through the many stages of life together building video games along the way. It could be labeled as a love story of sorts, although it’s not a traditional one. Sam and Sadie are extremely close, probably loving each other more than they love themselves or anyone else in their lives. They support each other through life’s more difficult moments (they meet in a hospital, so you know it won’t be an easy route forward) and also navigate various feelings of resentment, hope, fear, and love together. It’s an incredibly unique story that spans across 30 years, which allows readers to get to know the characters on a deeper level.
For fans of: Fredrik Backman
Beneath Cruel Waters by Jon Bassoff
I was fortunate enough to interview Jon on Charlotte Readers Podcast (listen here) about his ninth novel, Beneath Cruel Waters, which is one of the best psychological thrillers I’ve read in a long time. The book focuses on a family consisting of a mother, Vivian, and her two kids, Holt and Ophelia. Part of the book takes place in the 80’s when the children are younger, with the other part telling a more present-day story from Holt’s perspective. He’s moved on to become a firefighter after leaving his hometown, when he learns that his mother commit suicide. He returns home to try and make peace with his relationship with her and ends up uncovering a lot more than he bargained for when he finds a photo of a dead man among her things. Through reliving Holt’s childhood with him, and peering into both Vivian and Ophelia’s experiences, we learn exactly how much your own brain can hide from you. With themes such as generational trauma, grief, psychological abuse, and more, Beneath Cruel Waters is a story that will stick with you long after you read the last page.
For fans of: Tana French and Lisa Jewell
Even Cowgirls Get the Blues by Tom Robbins
Okay, so this was a fun one. Some of you have probably read this before. it’s considered a classic written in the 70’s that my brother-in-law recommended and I’m glad he did. It’s the perfect summer read filled with humor and utter ridiculousness. It centers on Sissy Hankshaw, a pretty girl with incredibly big thumbs and even bigger dreams. Sissy becomes a hitchhiker, encountering plenty of interesting people and situations as she travels. I’m not going to lie, this is a weird book. But it has almost fantastical elements to it because it’s so outlandish and explores the idea of time + how you spend it in a really unique way. It’s worth a read simply for that reason.
For fans of: Kurt Vonnegut
‘Til next time - you can catch me reading inside with multiple popsicles on an hourly basis.