Summer Reading List Part 2

Dreamland Burning by Jennifer Latham

Oh man, this was a great one. One of the best I’ve read in the past year. A young girl discovers a skeleton on her property. The story behind the skeleton is heartbreaking and one of a friendship that shouldn’t have existed during the race riots in Tulsa in the 20’s. I enjoyed this immensely and it was different from the other books I typically read.

Last Breath by Karin Slaughter

Karin can do no wrong. Love this one too. It’s the second book featuring attorney, Charlie, and this time she is helping a teenage girl. But…does the girl deserve her help??

The Breakdown by B.A. Paris

A woman is driving home in the rain, sees a woman on the side of the road in her car, possibly needing help, but she keeps driving. The woman in the car gets murdered. Could she have saved her life? SOOOOOO GOOD!!

 The Girl Before by JP Delaney

Such a weird, weird book but I did like it because it was so unusual. Two women rent a unique house for a cheap price…but there are rules. Who is the mysterious owner? Why are there rules?

The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn

 I’m sure you’ve heard of this one, right? It’s fantastic. I couldn’t put it down. A woman who has suffered a terrible tragedy watches life go by through looking out her window. She befriends the boy across the street and becomes involved in a mystery.

 This is Where it Ends by Marieke Nijkamp

 This was another book recommended by my students. It’s another tale of a school shooting. Very upsetting but good.

 My Husband’s Wife by Jane Corry

 Definitely read this one. It is a very unique story and lots of twists and turns. Lily enters into a new marriage determined to leave her old life behind. She takes on her first murder case and becomes entwined with her client, Joe. She also befriends her 9-year-old neighbor. Twelve years later…it all comes together in a crazy way.

 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

 This was another unique, wonderful book. It’s a quick read and entertaining. A teenage boy with autism sets out to solve a murder and makes many interesting, and sometimes upsetting, discoveries.

 Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover

 This is definitely a fun, easy, beach read. A young woman, Sydney, is happy living with her roommate and boyfriend. She discovers her boyfriend is cheating on her and her life unravels. Then she meets Ridge and her mindset begins to change. I don’t normally enjoy love stories but I absolutely loved this one!

 In the Unlikely Event by Judy Blume

 Oh, Judy, I have loved you for so long. (See my Judy post here.) This book is awesome. She is such an amazing writer. To be able to write little kid books like Fudge, to teenage angst books like Margaret to this is astounding to me. A plane crashes in a small town in the 50’s (evidently this is based on something that actually happened to Blume) and the world as everyone knows it changes.

 Best Day Ever by Kaira Rouda

 I thought this book was ok. I found it easy to figure out the twists and turns. If you’re new to reading thrillers, you will probably really enjoy it. If you’ve been around the block of thrillers a time or two, you’ll like it but it won’t surprise you. Husband and wife with the “perfect” marriage head out of town for a weekend away and begin to unravel the truth about their marriage.

 All the Little Children by Jo Furniss

 This was so different and incredible. I didn’t want it to end but then it ended on a cliffhanger!! Hopefully, a sequel is coming! A mom heads out on a camping trip with her children only to discover that, somehow, they have survived an apocalypse and must now fight to survive.

 Pet Sematary by Stephen King

 I’m sure you know this story too. The book is, OF COURSE, so much better and sooooo much scarier!

 The Wildling Sisters by Eve Chase

 You should definitely read this one. It is, again, unique and enthralling. Two sisters head to the English countryside for the summer only to discover that their aunt and uncle are still reeling from the disappearance of their daughter five years before. Fifty years later, Jesse decides to move her family to this same manor to escape city life and the memories of her husband’s first wife. They will soon discover if the strange rumors surrounding the manor are true.

 Tips for Living by Renee Shafransky

Nora is starting her life over after her husband leaves her for a new woman. She moves to a new town, starts a new life and, just as she is getting on with things, her ex and his new wife move to the same town. When the ex and the new wife are murdered, Nora can’t remember where she was or what she was doing on the night they were murdered. This was a quick, fun, entertaining read.

 Safe With Me by K.L. Slater

 It starts with a car crash and ends with an obsession. So good and will have you guessing until the very end!

 It Ends With Her by Brianna Labuskes

 A FBI agent is chasing a serial killer. Need I say more? SOOO GOOD!

 Lies That Bind Us by Andrew Hart

 I honestly don’t know why I kept reading this one because I knew it was rotten. I guess I kept hoping it would get better. It didn’t. Skip it.

 Whisper Me This by Kerry Anne King

 This was pretty good but not the best I’ve ever read. A woman has to go home to deal with her ailing father and discovers a sister she never knew about. Sounds fantastic, but it really was just ok.

 What Have You Done by Matthew Farrell

 This was fantastic. It’s a thrilling read that will keep you guessing until the very end. A woman is found dead in a hotel room. The forensics specialist who is first on the scene and investigating her death realizes that this is a woman he was having an affair with. His brother is a police detective who will do anything to help his brother.

 The Infinite Pieces of Us by Rebekah Crane

 Ugh, this book. I just found so many parts of it hard to believe and I didn’t like the message it sends to the teenagers who it is directed at. From the description, it sounded so great but…skip it!

 True Places by Sonja Yoerg

 I really liked this one. Suzanne is driving along the highway when she discovers a girl who is malnourished, ill and alone. For some reason, Suzanne feels compelled to take this girl under her wing and take care of her. She tries to piece together this young girl’s life story and, in doing so, discovers what she wants to do with her life as well.

 I’m Fine and Neither are You by Camille Pagan

 I didn’t like this at all. Sometimes I really wonder why I finish these. I guess I’m always optimistic that it will eventually get better!

 Stay Sexy and Don’t Get Murdered by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark

 If you’re a fan of their podcast, you must read this book. It’s fantastic. If you don’t listen to their podcast, why not????

 The Girl He Used to Know by Tracey Garvis-Graves

 Oh, I loved this book. I just finished it last week! Again, I don’t usually like romance novels but loved this one. Annika, who has Asperger’s syndrome falls in love with Jonathan. Something terrible happens and Annika breaks Jonathan’s heart. They run into each other years later and rekindle their romance but will fate let them have their happily ever after?

Run Away by Harlan Coben

 Man, I wish I could write like Coben. He amazes me. Every story of his is easy to read, super engaging, has awesome plot lines that tie perfectly together and intriguing characters. He’s so awesome. Simon and Ingrid’s daughter, Paige, has become a drug addict and has gone missing. They will do anything to find her. I love how he had several different plot lines going at once and you can’t figure out how Coben’s ever going to get them to tie together and then he does. Expertly. I read it in one day!