I was one of those dorky kids who actually looked forward to summer reading when school was out. I had more time to read what I wanted instead of what my teacher assigned. One of the perks of being a grownup is that I read what I want all the time; I’ve even been known to ditch a book club pick if I couldn’t get into it.
As summer approaches, I hope you have time to read what your heart desires. Here are four picks for you to consider, and my answers to this month’s Literary Junkies’ questions. If you’re interested in joining this online book club, let me know! I’ll hook you up.
For a comprehensive list by genre of every book I’ve reviewed on Kiss my List, check out the page I’ve created HERE. A link is on my sidebar as well if you want to check it out the next time you need a book.
What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty
Alice is 29, happily married, and pregnant with her first child. But when she comes to after taking a fall, she discovers she is 39, definitely not happily married, and the mother of three. She has no memory of the last ten years of her life.
I enjoyed Moriarity’s The Husband’s Secret, and this novel was just as good if not better. I loved discovering little bits of Alice’s life along with her, and the pace was fast enough to keep me turning the pages. I found the treatment of Alice’s marriage fascinating – such an interesting look at how life sneaks up on you and takes you to a place you never imagined you would be.
The Here and Now by Ann Brashares
I loved Brashares’ My Name is Memory, so I was looking forward to reading her newest Young Adult novel. It is the story of Prenna, a teenager who immigrated to New York when she was twelve. Her immigration wasn’t from another country; it was from an America ravaged by a pandemic decades in the future. She and her community must follow strict rules in order to maintain appearances, including no relationships with the “natives.” Of course, Prenna falls for Ethan, and together they work towards changing the future (or is it the past?) to prevent the pandemic.
It sounds complicated, but the novel was easy to follow. While it’s relatively formulaic, it was an enjoyable book. I’d recommend it for high schoolers and adults; it’s a quick read.
Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor
This is the third book in the Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy, a YA fantasy series. It’s hard to describe, so I’m going to rely on Goodreads description of the first book:
Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky. In a dark and dusty shop, a devil’s supply of human teeth grown dangerously low. And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.
Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real, she’s prone to disappearing on mysterious “errands”, she speaks many languages – not all of them human – and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she’s about to find out.
When beautiful, haunted Akiva fixes fiery eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?
I loved the books, but this description sounds hokey to me. So trust me, and if you enjoy this genre (or you have a teen who does), definitely add this trilogy to your list.
The Shoemaker’s Wife by Adriana Trigiani
I have no idea how this book ended up on my Nook, but when I needed something to read NOW, there it was. I’m sure I downloaded it for a reason. The novel follows the lives of two Italian immigrants in the early 20th century. From Italy to New York to Minnesota, the story drew me in despite the flat dialogue. I enjoy novels set in this time period, and I’m fascinated by immigrant life in America. The main characters of Enza and Ciro are likable if not a bit distant, but the book was entertaining. There are no great surprises; it’s just a nice story. Sometimes you need one like that.
Literary Junkies
1. What are you currently reading? Tell us about it!
I just started The Other Story by Tatiana de Rosay, who wrote Sarah’s Key. It’s about a young author who begins to search into his family’s past, but is sidetracked by the success of his first novel. Years later, he must return to his search of the past, for some reason which I have yet to discover.
2. Do you judge a book by its cover? What cover elements make you not want to pick up a book?
I do. I can be a book cover snob. A cheesy cover with a barechested man sweeping a woman off her feet will turn me off immediately. I prefer simple covers that don’t give away what’s inside. But if I do want to read a book that has a cheesy cover, I get it for my Nook! I could be reading Dr. Seuss on my Nook and no one would know.
3. Do you participate in any other bookish link-ups? Tell us about them so we can join next time!
Nope! I have seen one where participants review a book in brief Twitter snippets; I think it’s called Twitterature. I like that one, since I prefer short and sweet reviews.
4. Have you ever watched a movie that was better than its book version? Explain yourself!
Not that I can recall. However, I do think the Little House on the Prairie television series was better than the book series. Sorry, Laura Ingalls Wilder. How can you compete with Michael Landon?
By NBC Television [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
5. Summer is here! Do you read more often during any particular season?
I do tend to read more in the summer, for two reasons. I read when I’m with my kids at the pool, and I watch less television. Instead of catching up on shows in the evening, I’m more likely to get in bed and read.
6. What is the worst book you’ve read this year? Why?
Anne Rice’s The Wolves of Midwinter. I like Rice’s books, but I had to put this one down after one hundred pages. It’s the second in a trilogy, and I was bored to tears. Descriptive passages are rambling, and dialogue is stilted. Even after reading the first book, I completely lost interest in the characters. And when I skipped to the end to see if I missed anything exciting…I didn’t.
What are you reading now? Tell me if you’d recommend it!
I also loved My Name is Memory; looks like I need to add The Here and Now to my list next! 🙂
Definitely do – very different but also very good!
What Alice Forgot is one of my all time favorites! I hope you enjoy it.
I have so much reading/listening to do this summer! I am almost done with Tell the Wolves I’m home and Rob Lowe’s latest memoir. Next up is Goodnight June (Sarah Jio), Save the Date (Mary Kay Andrews) and The Stories We Tell (Patti Callahan Henry).
I finished What Alice Forgot – I really liked it! Sounds like you have a great list of books lined up – I will check them out. Thanks Allie!
what a great resource, dana. i’ve bookmarked your page of book reviews.
I’m glad, Catherine – I thought it would be helpful to have one central page for people to refer back to.
Just finished A Little Salty to Cut the Sweet by Sophie Hudson. It was wonderful! I’ve just started Missing You by Harlan Coben. I really enjoyed The Husband’s Secret. I think I found it based on one of your previous lists. Maybe? So, I’ve added What Alice Forgot and a few of your other recommendations to my reading list.
I did recommend The Husband’s Secret – I”m glad you liked it! I think I may have liked What Alice Forgot even more. I will check out your recommendations too – thank you!
My heart just broke. Laura Ingalls Wilder was much better than that TV series! I always thought The Age of Innocence was just as good in movie form as the book. Probably because Daniel Day Lewis was in the movie.
I’m sorry I broke your heart, Jean. I loved the books, but the television show was even better. We’ll agree to disagree, ok?
I too LOVED summer reading – nothing more glorious than books and a pool membership 🙂 I’d really like to read What Alice Forgot. I just finished Kelly Corrigan’s Memoir, Glitter and Glue and it was SOOO Great. Now I’m reading a middle grade read as I’d like to write the genre more – Travel Team – plus, it’s something I can talk about with my boy.
Glitter and Glue is on my list; glad you liked it. Have you read Wonder? Great middle school read and lots to discuss. My son is reading it now, and I loved it.
I totally agree that The Here and Now was way easier to follow than the premise indicated. I heard it’s being made into a movie. I do wonder how they will get some of those plots details across but I suppose more complicated stories have been put on film. (Hello Matrix!)
Did you see The Time Traveler’s Wife? I don’t think I could have followed the movie if I hadn’t read the book. The Here and Now should be interesting; I do like to see how directors bring a book to life on screen.
I tend to read more in the summer too. Especially when we are away on vacation. I can get through 3 books in a week on vacation…but I still have a ways to go before I get to vacation time!
Me too – my kids are in school until June 20th! Ugh.
The Fault in Our Stars is AMAAAAAZING (have tissues). I loved it. Loved it loved it. I want to read “What Alice Forgot” now because it sounds really great. Also, something interesting – I used to adore Anne Rice but I don’t even bother trying any longer. Sad, really.
Hey is the song Gods and Monsters related to the book series? Have you heard the song? It’s really um. Well, um really “dirty” for lack of a better word. It’s haunting in the sounds but the words are like OMG! Anyway just curious and thanks for the summer read recommendations! Oh I was the dorky kid, too. One summer, I read 100 books. The teacher didn’t believe me and called my mom who vouched for me. Ha. Jerk teacher.
I don’t think the book series is any relation to the song. It’s a fantasy series, which I’ve surprisingly gotten into over the past few years. And I’ve seen Gwen reading The Fault in our Stars, so I know I’ll need tissues!
So excited to add these to my reading list. I loved the Husband’s Secret, didn’t know Brashares had a new book out (yippee!!), and Trigiani is a local-to-me writer (just up the road in VA). I just read The Last Letter from You Lover by JoJo Meyes. I liked it even more than Me Before You.
Really? I haven’t read that one yet. But I did just get an advance copy of her next novel, and I can’t wait to read it!
Ohhhh, advanced copy. Sweet! I just put the Moriarty and Brashares on hold through the local eLibrary. Hope I get to the top of the list before my next business trip. The long flight to San Francisco is a great for quality time with my Kindle. I read the JoJo Meyes novel in one stretch, from Atlanta to San Fran.
My mom keeps telling me to read the shoemakers wife…I was thinking about reading What Alice Forgot. Thanks for the info babe!
I REALLY WISH there as a book linkup…if not maybe I’ll create one!
I’m sure there’s one out there, Karen. Just google it!
What Alice Forgot is on my to do reading list I’m quite looking forward to it
It was really good – enjoy!
What will I be reading this summer?!?! The massive LOAD OF MATERIALS I am required to read for school! I don’t think I can open any other books aside from those! 🙁
Ugh – I’m sorry you won’t have time for any pleasure reading, Gigi. Maybe you’ll have time for a magazine?
I have so many things on my summer reading list, namely the new Jenny Han book, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. I judge books by their covers too. I definitely don’t do barechested men on covers. I just can’t handle it.
I found your blog through the Literary Junkies link-up, and I wanted to reach out to you because I love connecting with fellow book lovers! I’ve created a unique opportunity for people who love books as me called the Summer Book Swap. It’s a fun way to connect with bookworms and discover new books. To join in on the fun, visit my post! — http://www.endlessblissblog.com/2014/05/summerbookswap.html
I will check it out – thanks Tiffany!
I can’t wait to read Dreams of Gods and Monsters!
It was good – I was happy with the way the series wrapped up.
These lists make me want to read more! I just don’t know where you find the time! 🙂 The only book I am currently reading is one for my Womens’ Bible Study group – Love Does by Bob Goff. It is full of comical stories while asserting that Love is an action word – something you do, not just something you feel.
Where do I find the time? I don’t do much cooking or cleaning 🙂 And so true – love is an action word.
Ann Brashares has a new one! Wow.
I think I have read many of her books – some I Loved and many I didn’t.
I think the movie of “The Joy Luck Club” was as good, or almost as good as the book.
There was a movie I liked better than a book once. I think it was a Stephen King one. “Dolores Claiborne” maybe!
I run hot and cold with Brashares too – this one was good, though. Can you believe I have not read or seen The Joy Luck Club? And Stephen King movies are often excellent – I saw The Shining as a teenager and I then couldn’t get past the first chapter of the book. Too scared!
Ugh now I want to read What Alice Forgot! But I have been waiting for time* sigh to begin The fault in our stars. I need 26 hours in a day. 🙂
I hear you, Jodi! The Fault in Our Stars is next on my list – I’ll read it during hours 25 and 26:)
I have The Shoemaker’s Wife on my to read list!
These are all great answers.
Thanks Jen! Off to check out yours 🙂
I put the first 2 on my ever growing list of books to read!
I’m like you – I read way more in the summer – I love to lay out and read!! And at night we sit out on the deck inside of in front of the TV so more reading then, too!
Yes! I’m actually happy all the shows are wrapping up this month – more time to read!
I’m reading The Memory Palace, a memoir about life with a mentally ill mother. Intense but amazing. Next is Fault in our Stars. All book club picks. Hope to get some juicy summer reading in there too!
I’m reading Fault in Our Stars next too – my daughter owns a copy and has read it twice. The Memory Palace sounds good – I’ll check it out!
I have the Here and Now on my Kindle- will read it soon! Thanks for the push!
No problem, Kate. It was a fast read.
Great, Interesting Post. (As Usual)!
—-I discovered Liane Moriarty a few months ago and I am now hooked.
The best books I’ve read recently were “Sharp Objects & Girl Gone.” Reading Gillian Flynn made me a better author: the surprises, word choices, quirkiness…. I love this author!!
A few books in my TOP Ten are Lolita, Pull of the Moon, The Book of Ruth, A Thousand Splendid Suns, The God of Small Things, & To Kill a Mockingbird.
Happy Reading and have a good weekend. xx
I liked Sharp Objects even more than Gone Girl. I will check out the books in your top ten that I haven’t read – thanks!
I liked Sharp Objects better too. in fact it was my favorite of her 3 books.
I agree!
So fun! Right now I’m reading Surprised by Motherhood by Lisa Jo Baker and Planting Dandelions by Kyran Pittman. I’m in a bit of a memoir-y phase but have started to miss fictional novels. Anyway, I’d recommend them both – very very different but both so lovely.
I will check them out – thanks Tricia!
Ohhhhhh I loved Sarah’s Key, so I’ll have to add The Other Story to my list for the summer!
It only got three stars on Goodreads, Katie – I’ll let you know if it’s worth reading when I finish it.
Totally pinning this, because I need a few more good reads especially as the summer is coming up. I have been slacking in the reading department the last few weeks though and thanks for the suggestions now 🙂
Hope you’ll have a little more time to read in the summer, Janine!
I have downloaded so many books to my Kindle, I’m reading, reading, reading. I just started Subliminal Messiah – a YA book. It’s pretty good. Actually really good. I’m also reading “Rare Bird” – I got an advanced readers copy. It is an amazing book about love, loss, life… I’d love to read the other story – I loved Sarah’s Key.
I’m interested in being a literary junkie! I love reading and reviewing books! 🙂
Check out the link in the graphic above, Alexa. The link up and the FB book club group are related, but you don’t have to do both. There’s a Twitter chat tonight at 8pm EST, #literaryjunkies – we are discussed Where’d You Go Bernadette. Email or message me if you want more info.
Oh how I love when you do these! I just recently returned to Chelsea Handler’s book (which is hilarious!!!) and I also downloaded Top Dog about the reasons why we compete and what it means. I just wrote down a few titles you recommended as I’m hoping to have lots of reading time in Portugal and on the plane!!
I read The Here in Now in a few hours during our drive home from Disney. I hope you get lots of time to read on your trip – you’ll need a little down time!
*sadface* I am not reading anything currently. I read a book over the weekend by a fellow blogger who asked for a review so I will be posting about it this week, but I keep hearing my husband’s voice in the back of my head nagging me to write the book I once briefly mentioned as a joke (WordPress/blogging related). Maybe when the summer kicks in (August) I will go on a book hunting spree!
I go through periods of not being able to read much – I hope you have time soon, Ana Lynn!