Fall is right around the corner but we don’t have to give up those summer books just yet. Here are 5 late-summer reads I recommend plus 3 new books you won’t want to miss.
Fantastic Women’s Fiction
Jill Shalvis is one of my go-to authors when I want a compulsively readable novel with characters I’ll fall in love with immediately. The Friendship Pact offers a gorgeous Lake Tahoe setting, a wonderful cast of characters that are all flawed yet loveable, and a storyline that hooked me from the first page. This is the second book in Shalvis’s Sunset Cove series, but it stands on its own. Highly recommend for readers who enjoy stories featuring mother-daughter relationships, as well as themes of redemption and second chances.
This is my first time reading a novel by Minnie Darke but it surely won’t be my last. With Love from Wish & Co. is so enjoyable. I like a book featuring a character with a moral dilemma, which I feel the heroine must wrestle with as her personal life unexpectedly intersects with her goals as a small business owner. There are several characters who get to share their point of view in this story, and the author handles those POV shifts quite well. Each character is on a path and their choices will impact the future of other characters who are also caught up in this interesting web of love and loss.
I found myself rooting for Marnie from the beginning. My favorite quote from the book comes from a teenager who describes love as the hokey pokey … you have to put your whole self in.
How profound is that?!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the complimentary digital copy. This is a satisfying and compelling read. Highly recommend!
Epic Romantic Suspense
Holy guacamole. Sunburst is phenomenal!
Last night I shirked all my responsibilities, pretended I didn’t have any writing deadlines, then sat on my porch and blazed through the last hour of the audio version. Shout out to the narrator, Cynthia Farrell, who did a brilliant job.
Sunburst is the 2nd book in Susan May Warren’s Sky King Ranch series. It’s an epic romantic suspense novel that will carry you vicariously from Nigeria to Alaska (with at least one pit stop in Florida). This story is action-packed and fast-paced, with plenty of whip smart dialogue, plus a thought-provoking inspirational message. The Kingston family has a fair amount of plausible drama, there are secondary characters with intriguing secrets, and the descriptions of the settings make me feel like I’m there.
I love reading/listening to Susie’s books and I’m so glad I won’t have to wait long for the third book in this incredible series. Sundown releases November 1st.
Outstanding Audio
Loved it! So glad I listened to the recommendations from my bookish online friends and gave this one a chance. The narration for the audio version is excellent. Nora Goes Off Script might be one of my favorite reads of the year.
Excellent narration! Julia Whelan is so talented and her nuanced voice inflections and emotion bring the story to life. The characters are well-developed. As an author, I often thought listening to Birds of California was like attending a masterclass in how to write punchy, gripping dialogue.
The story slowed significantly for me in the middle. I’m also super irritated by the gratuitous use of the F-bomb. It’s unfortunate when authors fall back on that as their go-to response between characters in conflict. The ending is satisfying and redeemed Fiona for me as a mostly unlikeable character.
This novel has open-door intimacy and as previously mentioned a ton of profanity. If you’re a sensitive reader, I’d steer clear.
3 New Books You Won’t Want to Miss
Here is a current new release that’s already a bestseller and two books arriving in October that I’ve started reading and already adore.
A Place to Land is Lauren K. Denton’s latest novel. It releases October 4, 2022. Lauren’s author voice is like no other. I’m so grateful for the ARC I received and super excited to keep reading this one. In case you missed it, Lauren K. Denton and Sarah Addison Allen were guests on a recent episode of Friends & Fiction. It’s a powerful conversation. You can watch the replay here.
I’m a huge fan of Sarah Addison Allen’s work so I couldn’t wait to get my hands on a copy of Other Birds. I received an ARC from the publisher and purchased my own copy as my Book of the Month selection. The writing is brilliant. If you’re a fan of magical realism, I highly recommend Other Birds.
Here’s the description:
From the acclaimed author of Garden Spells comes a tale of lost souls, secrets that shape us, and how the right flock can guide you home.
Down a narrow alley in the small coastal town of Mallow Island, South Carolina, lies a stunning cobblestone building comprised of five apartments. It’s called The Dellawisp and it’s named after the tiny turquoise birds who, alongside its human tenants, inhabit an air of magical secrecy.
When Zoey Hennessey comes to claim her deceased mother’s apartment at The Dellawisp, she meets her quirky, enigmatic neighbors including a girl on the run, a grieving chef whose comfort food does not comfort him, two estranged middle-aged sisters, and three ghosts. Each with their own story. Each with their own longings. Each whose ending isn’t yet written.
When one of her new neighbors dies under odd circumstances the night Zoey arrives, she’s thrust into the mystery of The Dellawisp, which involves missing pages from a legendary writer whose work might be hidden there. She soon discovers that many unfinished stories permeate the place, and the people around her are in as much need of healing from wrongs of the past as she is. To find their way they have to learn how to trust each other, confront their deepest fears, and let go of what haunts them.
Delightful and atmospheric, Other Birds is filled with magical realism and moments of pure love that won’t let you go. Sarah Addison Allen shows us that between the real and the imaginary, there are stories that take flight in the most extraordinary ways.
Final Thoughts on Late-Summer Reads and New Books You Won’t Want to Miss
Thanks for stopping by and checking out my mini-reviews and new book shout outs. Hope you’ve found some books to add to your TBR pile. If you’d like to share your thoughts, feel free to leave a comment. I’m always curious to hear what others are reading and loving.
If you’d like even more book recs, this post is part of Anne Bogel’s monthly new and notable reading round-up. Please visit her home on the internet to connect with a lovely and delightful bookish community.
Happy reading, sweet friends!
Please note: this post contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase via the links provided, I will receive a small commission.
