Looking for a good beach read? With July — and the 4th of July long weekend — just around the corner, we thought it was the perfect time to share some summer reading picks.
We turned to Cindy from Thoughts from a Page to share her suggestions for the best summer reads of 2022. An avid reader and book reviewer, Cindy loves to talk about books everywhere she can, including her Thoughts from a Page podcast where she interviews authors about their latest works.
Cindy says: "Summer is such a great time to read books. Schedules seem more fluid, time is readily available, and the weather lends itself to reading. For this post, I selected titles that came out in 2022 and are page turners but that are not too heavy or dark. Whether you are traveling for work or going on a vacation, hanging out at your local pool or just enjoying a staycation, here are some great books to keep you occupied during the summer months"
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The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd When Nell Young’s estranged father, a renowned cartographer, dies at his desk at the New York Public Library, she discovers that he was clutching the very same gas station map that caused their falling out years before. Curious about the importance of the map and its potential link to her father’s death, Nell conducts research and discovers that the map is exceedingly rare, the only one left of its kind, because an unknown collector has destroyed every copy but the one her father owned. Baffled by this strange discovery, Nell sets out to uncover the secrets behind the map. This unique and creative tale has an intelligent and engaging plot. |
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Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting by Clare Pooley Magazine columnist Iona Iverson rides the train to and from work every day, seeing the same people to whom she has privately given nicknames such as Mr. Too-Good-To-Be-True and Smart-But-Sexist-Manspreader. None of the commuters ever speak to one another until the day one of them chokes on food and is saved by another regular rider. This incident makes Iona realize that she wants to learn more about her fellow riders so she begins to develop relationships with them as she rides, inserting herself into their issues, helping solve their problems and even becoming friends with several of them. I loved the characters and the way they develop, interact, and come together, the stellar writing, the story line and the ending. Infused with heart and humor, this book demonstrates the importance of community and the ability of relationships to change people’s lives while also serving as a reminder that people should not be judged by their appearance. I loved this gem of a book and was so sad when it ended. |
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Last Summer on State Street by Toya Wolfe This coming-of-age story follows 12-year-old Fe Fe Stevens who lives in the Robert Taylor Homes on the south side of Chicago in 1999, right as the buildings are slowly being torn down by the Chicago Housing Authority. Her building is next in line to come down, and for a brief time she forms an alliance with two other girls in her building – one the daughter of deeply religious parents and the other a member of the family who runs the gang that “protects” her building. But as the summer progresses and the building begins to empty, her relationship with the two girls follows a similar course. The author herself lived in the Robert Taylor Homes, a public housing complex of over 20 high-rise buildings, built to house low-income families in Chicago. This story is engaging, heartbreaking, and compelling. |
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Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan In this absolutely delightful romantic comedy, Nora Hamilton writes formulaic scripts for a Hallmark-like channel. But when her husband leaves her and her two children, she mines her experiences and drafts a fabulous script that gets picked up for the big screen. The movie is filmed at her home, and Leo Vance, America’s heart throb, is cast as Nora’s worthless husband. But when filming wraps, Leo asks if he can stay on as a renter for a week to enjoy the peace and quiet and against her better judgment she agrees. No one is more surprised than Nora when Leo bonds with her kids and runs errands with her in town. Monaghan creates a heartwarming, hilarious, and charming story that kept me completely engaged in the story as I rooted for Leo and Nora. |
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Woman on Fire by Lisa Barr After fledgling reporter Jules Roth talks her way into a job with Dan Mansfield, Chicago’s preeminent investigative reporter, he assigns her to a top-secret story, locating “Woman on Fire,” a very valuable painting purloined by the Nazis during World War 2. But Jules doesn’t have much time because the man Dan is helping find the painting is dying. In Europe, heiress and art collector Margaux de Laurent hunts for the same painting and will stop at nothing to find it. As Jules gets drawn into the dangerous and seductive art world of the uber-wealthy, she uncovers secrets and betrayals while becoming intrigued with the mesmerizing painting (and its subject) at the center of the drama. Using a plethora of realistic twists and turns combined with a stellar plot and an intriguing cast of characters, Barr creates a thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat. |
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