Your End of Summer Reading List

Looking for your next binge-worthy book? Or, hoping to rekindle your love of reading while soaking in the last bit of summer? Look no further.

As an avid reader, I’m always on the lookout for books that make me want to drop everything until I’ve reached the last page, keeping me captivated from start to finish. Over the last few months, I’ve found several of these page turners including everything from thrillers, mystery novels to nonfiction books. Whether you are reading for pleasure, or seeking a book club suggestion, make sure to add these titles to your list. There is something for everyone to enjoy, so pick up your book, grab a glass of wine and get reading!  

1. The Vanishing Half by Britt Bennett 

A mesmerizing book that made me examine any regrets or severed ties I’ve had throughout my life, The Vanishing Half features prominent themes such as “passing”, racism, identity and the impact of the choices one makes. The book follows the lives of Black twins from Louisiana who decided to follow very different walks of life – one who decided to live life as a white woman, the other as a Black woman, and their life journeys as influenced by their life choices and opportunity. Their stories come full circle as their daughters connect, however the conclusion left a lasting impression on me and took me down a road least expected. 

2. Girls Like Us by Christina Alger 

A murder mystery that draws strong parallels to the scandals brought to light in recent news, this quick paced thriller follows FBI agent Nell Flynn as she returns home upon her father’s death to settle his affairs. She becomes an active part of the investigation he was working on leading up to his death, and begins to question whether or not her father played a hand in the killings. You’ll soar through this book questioning the motives and integrity of each character while you get swept up in Nell’s story. As a big fan of Megan Miranda, Gillian Flynn and similar authors, I was drawn to the writing style and loved that it threw me for a loop with all the plot twists.      

3.  Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens 

One of the most beautifully descriptive narratives, this book will take you into the marshes off the North Carolina coast for a beautifully haunting story. Your heart strings will be torn for the lonely and abandoned Kya Clark, and you will feel at one with nature (even if you have no affinity for the outdoors). This was such a unique read that stood out to me well after the ending, and I recommend it for all looking for an out of the box mystery or drama.    

4.  Three Women by Lisa Taddeo 

A true story following the lives of three separate women, this book takes you into the world of amazingly relatable characters as they deal with impactful moments that help shape their lives. While reading, I had to remind myself it was actually a nonfiction book, for the way it was written felt more like a work of fiction based upon how seamless the stories were conveyed. You’ll learn about the intimate true experiences of the women and feel their raw emotions firsthand. To me, their stories felt timeless, and relatable, as I felt as if I was reading about an acquaintance or even a friend.   

5.  White Fragility by Robin Diangelo 

A dense but impactful read, this book takes you on an educational journey guided by anti-racism trainer Diangelo. This is a must read for every white American, especially those looking to become more educated about matters of racism, and to fully understand how we can be more progressive when it comes to addressing ‘white fragility.’ This is the perfect book to read as a first step on the journey to further educate yourself on the topic of race, and while not something you can read in one setting, I learned a lot about the history of racial justice and about myself during reflection of this read.

6.  The Guest List by Lucy Foley 

For anyone who has wedding fever on the mind – this book will give you all the thriller vibes – no RSVP needed. A quick paced read, this book takes you through the accounts of several wedding guests at a high-profile wedding, building up to the murder of one of the guests. The victim, murderer and motive threw me for a loop, and had me on the edge of my seat until the last chapter. 

7.  You are Not Alone by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen 

Especially amidst a pandemic, it’s commonplace to feel lonely at times, and Shay is no exception to this feeling as a single thirty-year-old living in New York City without many ties to the community. From the moment she witnesses a woman jump in front of a moving train, Shay is distraught as she feels a striking similarity between her and the deceased woman. She even goes as far as to befriend the woman’s two best friends – a chic sophisticated pair of sisters who open up new doors for her, give her a new exciting perspective on life – and all seems to be going great in Shay’s life– until it isn’t. This page turner drew me in from the first chapter and it was refreshing to be able to read the different characters’ perspectives. Like the other books by these authors, I binged through this story and can’t wait for their next release.  

Happy reading!