Is there anything more satisfying than a day full of sun, sand, surf, the smell of Coppertone, and a good book?
No. No, there isn't.
Oh, don't give me that "birth of my child" or "graduating from law school" business. I'm trying to make a point about summer reading. Besides, having a kid is more of a one-to-four-times-in-a-lifetime kind of deal (unless you're a Duggar or an alley cat) whereas spending the day at the beach with an enthralling read is possible every single day... provided you have the right book.
Anyway, today I'm all about fresh, fun summer fiction.
First up, my friend Maureen...
Not Ready for Mom Jeans by Maureen Lipinski: One wouldn't think I'd be into a book about motherhood because I'm pretty sure the state would get involved should Fletch and I ever choose to reproduce. The logical question is if I'm not a mom, why would I read about them? Yeah, well, I'm also not a vampire, werewolf, or stupid teenage girl, yet I dig the Twilight series. My point is I don't have to be a newly minted parent struggling to balance it all to appreciate Lipinski's quick wit or engaging narrative. The bonus here is this book is a sequel to the equally charming A Bump in the Road, although you don't have to have read it first. Rather, once you crack the spine and find yourself enamored by Lipinski's writing, you can go back and check out the first. Win-win, people. Win-win.
In related news, I have four autographed copies of Mom Jeans to give away and will do so as soon as I think of a contest that won't be too taxing for Fletch to organize.
Spooky Little Girl by Laurie Notaro: We all love Notaro's memoirs like The Idiot Girls' Action Adventure Club and We Thought You Would Be Prettier, yes? What you might not know is Notaro's were among the first memoirs I ever read. Before her, I never knew you could just write funny stories about your life AND PEOPLE MIGHT BUY THEM. Let me tell you, that revelation changed everything. I was thrilled to finally thank her for the inspiration in person a couple of years ago. (We had grilled cheese sandwiches together; it was awesome!)
But today's about fiction, so lucky for us, Notaro obliged by writing her second novel and going "magical realism" all over our asses. (Magical realism may be my favorite subset of fiction.) Spooky Little Girl explores the afterlife once the heroine meets her "surprise demise." The story's full of Notaro's trademark humor and tons of heart. There's a bit about the dog that made me cry, but the ending makes it all worthwhile. If you're happy that I have a career, thank Laurie by picking up a copy.
The One That I Want by Allison Winn Scotch: Remember when I went on and on about The Department of Lost and Found? And couple of years after that I was all about Time of My Life? Yes? Well, Winn Scotch is back with an enthralling read about a woman who thinks she has everything she wants in life... until she gets the "gift" of clairvoyance and sees that her perfect life isn't as good as it seems. Every women's magazine has this as one of their summer book picks, so I'm not the only one who got wrapped up in this story. On top of that, Winn Scotch is in the process of running a kick-ass contest where one lucky reader can win more than twenty different autographed copies of books by some of the most loved names in women's fiction. Check out details on how to enter here!
The Opposite of Me by Sarah Pekkanen: Lately my Kindle's been tricking me into buying YA and Christian novels. Well, the joke's on them because I've enjoyed most of what they suggested (although I did wonder at first why none of the characters in them ever swore or hooked up.) However, it seems the books I find most satisfying are the ones suggested by authors I respect. So when I saw that Winn Scotch, Beth Harbison, and Jennifer Weiner were singing this book's praises, that's all the persuasion I needed. That trio is like the Good Housekeeping seal of approval of stuff I dig. I inhaled this book about sibling rivalry and personal reinvention, relishing the snappy dialogue and well-drawn characters. My only complaint is that I was stuck reading it on airplanes and in cabs, and not poolside with a frosty tropical beverage.
The Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffin: Okay, so I know Giffin IRL and everything. And even though we've chatted and I've met her friends and we've exchanged notes, it's still hard for me to talk about her work without lapsing into total squealing fan-girl mode. She's just that good. Her trademark is creating protagonists with a contrarian point of view, e.g. the girl who sleeps with her best friend's guy, the woman who doesn't want kids, the spiteful narcissist, etc. Her genius is taking characters we'd normally consider villains, or at least not worthy of our empathy, and makes their situations relatable... do you know how hard that is to do? Like, impossible.
In her newest, Giffin gives the perspective of not only the wife, but also from the woman with whom her husband cheats. And although this kind of story generally has one distinct victim and one clear perpetrator, Giffin artfully muddies the waters in such a way that the reader understands both points of view. In a word? It's riveting. Open this book on a bright summer afternoon and you'll be sunburned long before you want to close it.
So, that's it for today and I hope you enjoy the suggestions! Later this week I'll be back with the best in Young Adult and Zombie Lit (no, it really is a category) plus everything I've already pre-ordered for the rest of the summer.
And remember, although these are excellent beach reads, there's nothing in the rules that says you can't save them for a rainy day.
