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
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!