Metropolitan Musings: beach reads

Showing posts with label beach reads. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Mid-Summer Reading List

I love reading on the beach so I am constantly needing new books to start in the summer. Below are four that I couldn't put down. Beatriz Williams, whose books have appeared on all three of my most recent reading lists, is currently my favorite writer. She writes amazing love stories with strong, witty female protagonists. So bummed I missed her book signing in Greenwich, as are my sisters who are the only two people in my un-official book club (we're taking applicants)! I'm currently reading "Me Before You: A Novel" by Jojo Moyes and I am surprisingly sucked in. "Sweet Filthy Boy" is a romance novel with some international flair and "The American Heiress" is next on my list. What are you guys reading? Please share!

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Summer Reading Part 2

"A Hundred Summers" -Beatriz Williams

I devoured this book in 2 days and loved every minute of it. Switching between 1931 and 1938, the book takes place in high society Manhattan, a fictional beachside town in Rhode Island, Smith College and Dartmouth. For anyone who loved "Elements of Style" or who enjoys love stories set in a more glamorous time, this one is for you. Highly recommended.

"Tigers in Red Weather" -Liza Klaussmann

Set in a similar time period, "Tigers in Red Weather" is the next book on my list. From Amazon, "Nick and her cousin Helena grew up in a world of sun bleached boat docks, tennis whites, and midnight gin parties at Tiger House, the family home on Martha's Vineyard. In the wake of the Second World War, the two women are on the cusp of starting their "real lives": Helena is off to Hollywood and a new marriage to the charismatic Avery Lewis, while Nick is heading for a reunion with her own husband, Hughes Derringer, about to return from the war. The world seems rife with possibility."

Also on the list...

"The Emperor's Children" -Claire Messud

"The Emperor’s Children is a richly drawn, brilliantly observed novel of fate and fortune—about the intersections in the lives of three friends, now on the cusp of their thirties, making their way--and not-- in New York City. In this tour de force, the celebrated author Claire Messud brings to life a city, a generation, and the way we live in this moment." (Amazon)

"The Love Wars" -L. Alison Heller

"Even though Molly Grant has only a handful of relationships behind her, she’s already been through more divorces than she can count.

At the premier Manhattan law firm where she’s a matrimonial attorney, the hours are long, the bosses tyrannical, and the bonuses stratospheric. Her clients are rich, famous, and used to getting their way. Molly’s job—and primary concern in life—is to work as hard as possible to make sure they do. Until she meets the client who changes everything…. Fern Walker is the desperate former wife of a ruthless media mogul. Her powerful ex is slowly pushing her out of her young children’s lives, and she fears losing them forever. Molly—haunted by an incident from her own past—finds herself unable to walk away from Fern and sets out to help her. She just needs to do it without her bosses finding out.Now, as complications both professional and personal stack up, Molly can only hope that her own wits, heart, and instincts are enough—both in and out of court." (Amazon)

"Reconstructing Amelia" -Kimberly McCreight

"In Reconstructing Amelia, the stunning debut novel from Kimberly McCreight, Kate's in the middle of the biggest meeting of her career when she gets the telephone call from Grace Hall, her daughter’s exclusive private school in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Amelia has been suspended, effective immediately, and Kate must come get her daughter—now. But Kate’s stress over leaving work quickly turns to panic when she arrives at the school and finds it surrounded by police officers, fire trucks, and an ambulance. By then it’s already too late for Amelia. And for Kate.

An academic overachiever despondent over getting caught cheating has jumped to her death. At least that’s the story Grace Hall tells Kate. And clouded as she is by her guilt and grief, it is the one she forces herself to believe. Until she gets an anonymous text: She didn’t jump.

Reconstructing Amelia is about secret first loves, old friendships, and an all-girls club steeped in tradition. But, most of all, it’s the story of how far a mother will go to vindicate the memory of a daughter whose life she couldn’t save.

Fans of Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl will find Reconstructing Amelia just as gripping and surprising." (Amazon)

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Summer Reading 2013

I have always been the girl that reads every book the teacher assigns. I'm wasn't a teacher's pet by a long shot but I just devour books. From trashy chick lit (this is the majority of my reading these days - they can't see the cover if you're reading it on a Kindle or iPad...) to NY Times best sellers, I am always searching Amazon for the newest, hottest, latest. When my mom threatened to cancel my Kindle/Amazon account that was automatically getting charged to her credit card, I almost had a stroke. Crisis averted, though, and now I am on the hunt for my Summer reading list. If any of you have suggestions PLEASE send them my way. Below are a few reads that I enjoyed in the last two years and a couple I'm excited to dive into. Nothing better than a book on the beach! Now all we need is the beach weather...

Gone Girl - Read this before the movie comes out! I was TOTALLY fooled and had myself saying "oh no she didntttttt"

Not Quite Mine - I always search high and low for good chick lit (and by good I mean that I like it and not that it is a "good" book) sometimes light, beach reads are the best. Texas socialite finds a baby on her doorstep and tries to hide it from her family and her ex-secret lover Dean (best friend of her older brother). Sparks fly when Dean starts to figure out what's going on.

Wallbanger - sounds a little sketchy but this book, set in San Francisco, is a light-hearted romance novel that I would be shocked if they didn't adapt it into a screenplay (and it doesn't have anything to do with vampires).

Seating Arrangements - artfully written. amazingly rich descriptions and a good summer book about a summer wedding in Maine.

Bared to You: A Crossfire Novel - Fifty Shades of Grey in NYC where both characters have secrets and, Eva, the main character, is much savvier and more experienced/put together/less naive than Ana from 50SOG. The 4th one is coming out in a week.

Rules of Civility - adored this. any 20 something (and older) woman living in NYC (or who appreciates Manhattan) will enjoy the stark contrast between NYC back then and NYC today and the similarities that still stand. Such a good book.

Room - written in the perspective of a 5 year old boy who was born in captivity (his mother was kidnapped and they have been kept in a room his whole life a la the Cleavland kidnappings) who only knows that the room exists and not the outside world.

In the Garden of Beasts - non fiction that reads as well as fiction about the U.S. ambassador to Germany and his family during Hitler's rise to power. If you like historical fiction or this time period, this book is a must read. Erik Larson is a genius. I literally could not believe the story was true because of the intricate details of the plot. Also loved "Devil in the White City," by him, as well.