Summer Reading List

Greetings from the West Coast! No, I haven't moved yet but I'm here for the week so posting may be a little spotty. That being said, Saturday was the first official day of Summer and I love to have a stack of books to dive into every summer. This summer, that stack is even bigger because I am going to be traveling most of July. What's on your reading list? Do tell!

 

 

1. "Fangirl" by Rainbow Rowell- My sister read this quirky coming of age story by the author of "Eleanor and Park" in one day and loved it.

 

2. "The Secret Life of Violet Grant" by Beatriz Williams - The Greenwich, CT native, Beatriz Williams, is at it again with her novel after one of my all-time favorite books "100 Summer." This story combines 1960's Manhattan with a 1910's German love story. Cannot wait to start!

 

3. "Cartwheel: A Novel" by Jennifer Dubois - This novel is reminiscent of the Amanda Knox trial with critics calling it "the next Gone Girl." I love mysteries and thrillers with strong female protagonists so I'm so excited to pick this one up.

 

4. "It Happened One Wedding" by Julie James- I love romance writer Julie James and this book was no exception. She writes light-hearted love stories usually set in Chicago, which I love. A total beach read.

 

5. "The Vactioners: A Novel" by Emma Straub - on the NYT Best Sellers list and one of the hot books for summer.

 

6. "One Lavender Ribbon" by Heather Burch - "Can a stack of long-hidden love letters from a WWII war hero inspire a heartbroken woman to love again?"

7. "The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair: A Novel" by Joel Dicker


 

Favorite Coffee Table Books

I have loved coffee table books since before it was appropriate to collect coffee table books. I had at least ten in my room by the time I was 14. And without a coffee table to put them on, they all piled up in my room until a few years ago when I got my first apartment. I adore Assouline books in particular. They are always so gorgeous and filled with photos that take you to another time or place. Below are a few of my favorites. You can click the link to shop, but beware, once you start collecting, it's hard to stop!

Winter Break Book List 2013

I don't know about you guys, but I love to have a bundle of books to choose from over Christmas break. Below are a few I've loaded onto my kindle and can't wait to start.

1. The Signature of All Things: A novel by Elizabeth Gilbert

2. The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty

3. Divergent by Veronica Roth

4. Sweet Nothings by Kim Law

5. The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

6. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

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)

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.

Deadly Fear, Deadly Heat, Deadly Lies - one part criminal minds and one part sizzling romance novel series.

Favorite Romance Novel Authors

-Anything by Rachel Gibson (pretty sure I've read almost all of her books - 

(favorites include "a lot like love" and "any man of mine")

-Julie James (attorneys, cops, etc. mostly set in Chicago)

-Cynthia Eden (some are a little too paranormal for me...)

-Toni Aleo (hockey romance novels - what's not to love..)

Books I want to read:

"Brain on Fire" - Susannah Cahalan

"Girls in White Dresses" -Jennifer Close

"The Secret History - Donna Tartt

"What She Saw" - Lucinda Rosenfeld

"The Emperor's Children" -Claire Messud

"Bring up the Bodies" -Hilary Mantel

*Images via Amazon.com and Google.com

Minimalist Book Covers

I absolutely love to read. It started at a young age.

Yup, that's me reading by myself in the corner.

I've obviously gotten with the times and graduated to a Kindle/Ipad but there's something about a great hardcover book that is so appealing. Below are some of my favorite minimalist book covers. Old books, new covers-- I would love to get a bunch of these on my shelves!