Big Little Lies: Before it was an HBO smash (I still haven't watched it yet, but hopefully soon!), it was a book. There's some frothiness and mommy politics, but do be prepared for some darker stuff about domestic and sexual violence. It's easy to dip in and out of and an enjoyable read.
Chemistry: This book is fairly short and never feels heavy, even though it deals with some pretty heavy themes. An unnamed narrator, a Chinese-American Ph.D. student, drops out of her chemistry doctoral program and tries to move forward with her life while examining her past. There's a lightness to the prose and structure that makes it perfect for beach reading.
City of Thieves: A journey and adventure...usually something that makes me roll my eyes and reach for the next book, but this one is executed with charm and verve. The setting is a little grim: Leningrad during the siege, in the dead of winter, but the relationship that grows between the two main characters is lively and fun and friendship stories are a beach read basic.
The Girls: The heat of summer is all over this book, about a teenage girl who finds herself involved in a Manson-inspired cult and the ways that experience continues to reverberate throughout her life. You can practically feel the sultry warmth of her days on the ranch.
Under The Tuscan Sun: Frances Mayes' memoir about renovating a home in Italy is NOT the same as the movie (there's no real romance element, most importantly), but it is a well-written, pleasant book about something precious few of us will ever do. It's lightweight stuff, so nothing to keep you from remembering to turn over to even out your tan.
The White Queen: Philippa Gregory's historical fiction books are kind of like brain Twinkies...it's not high quality stuff and there's a lot of fluff, but it goes down easy and tastes good. This is the first in her series about the Wars of the Roses and it's not great, but is perfect for some easy reading in the sun.
The White Tiger: For those who enjoy their humor on the dark side, we know from the outset that the hero of this novel is a murderer living in India. How he came to be one, and what became of him afterwards, is the interesting part. It's quick-paced and funny in a twisty way.
The Last One: This was one of my favorite books I read last year, a story about a woman on a Survivor-on-steroids reality show who is in the middle of the wilderness when a catastrophic pandemic strikes. She has no idea and believes the devastation she sees is the result of sadistic producers. It's great.
The Love Song of Jonny Valentine: This book follows a Bieber-esque 11 year-old pop star on his second nationwide tour and the voice that Teddy Wayne creates for his protagonist is amazing. It made me think harder about the way I perceive child stars, for sure.
David and Goliath: I do love me some non-fiction, and this Malcolm Gladwell book about the ways in which we think about strength and weakness and how and why those ways fail is intriguing. He also has an excellent podcast, Revisionist History, if you're into him.
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