Debbie Harpham
by SheReads.com
With so many new books being released this summer, it’s easy to find a great new pick for your book club. From women’s fiction to romance, historical fiction and even a few thriller picks, there’s something every book club will love on this list.
1. We Came Here to Forget by Andrea Dunlop
Katie Cleary has one goal in mind: be the best skier in the world. Devoting her life to training for the Olympics, her trajectory is ruined when a horrifying truth about her sister is revealed. Now with her life and goals shattered, she leaves her home to begin a new life and create a new identity for herself in Buenos Aires. Going by Liz Sullivan, Katie gets the chance to start fresh, create new friendships and even find love with a charming tango teacher in We Came Here to Forget.
2. When We Left Cuba by Chanel Cleeton
Sugar heiress Beatriz Perez’s world was turned upside down by the Cuban Revolution, causing her to lose everything she loved because of it. Now being recruited by the CIA to get inside Fidel Castro’s most trusted circle, she’ll sacrifice everything in the name of revenge and getting back the life she lost. But with the Cold War on the horizon, she’ll be forced to make decisions that will change her world forever once again in this historical fiction novel by Reese Witherspoon Book Club author Chanel Cleeton.
3. The Last Resort by Marissa Stapley
Fans of Big Little Lies will love this new book from Marissa Stapley. When two couples sign up for a marriage counseling program at The Harmony Resort, they have no idea this seemingly harmless trip will have lasting effects for all of them. As therapy begins, the two couples find that their hosts aren’t as picture-perfect as they had anticipated and when a tropical storm traps them at the resort, they’ll have to own up to their secrets and each will walk away from the experience knowing their lives will never be the same.
4. The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Colson Whitehead is back this summer with another impactful historical fiction novel. Living in early 1960s segregated Tallahassee, Elwood Curtis knows that his life won’t be easy but tries his best to stay out of trouble. But when he makes a slight mistake, he’ll soon find himself in a horrific reformatory school where boys often “disappear.” Forming a friendship with skeptic Turner, the two will have to fight for their freedom and ultimately make a decision that will impact the rest of their young lives.
5. The Enlightenment of Bees by Rachel Linden
For a feel-good read, pick up The Enlightenment of Bees by Rachel Linden. Mia West is convinced that she finally has her life figured out with the perfect job and partner. But then her boyfriend tells her he needs some space and suddenly her world is thrown into total chaos. Leaving her troubles behind her, she embarks on a humanitarian trip with her roommate and a cast of unique characters. Together, they’ll travel the world and through their experiences, Mia will have to decide whether she wants to return to her old life or continue the new chapter she has begun.
6. The Wedding Party by Jasmine Guillory
Another favorite author of Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club, Jasmine Guillory returns this summer with a new romance novel. Maddie and Theo have always disliked one another but after spending a romantic night together, they have a hard time getting the thought of each other out of their minds. Having to help their best friend with her wedding, the two agree that any kind of feelings they have for each other will end once the wedding is over. But as the wedding nears, they come to regret their decision and will have to figure out if there’s a possibility for a true relationship between them after all.
7. The Printed Letter Bookshop by Katherine Reay
Madeline Cullen grew up adoring her aunt’s bookstore, Printed Letter Bookshop. Twenty years later, she has just inherited the shop but despite her affection for it, family drama makes this inheritance bittersweet. But her plans for selling the place will be disrupted by the store’s two employees who look at the shop as a safe haven and escape from their own lives. With Madeline’s professional life falling apart and the appearance of a new man, she’ll have to make a tough decision about whether or not to keep the shop that holds so many happy and difficult memories. This new novel set in a bookshop has the perfect mix of romance and female friendship.
8. How to Hack A Heartbreak by Kristin Rockaway
For Mel Strickland, working every day at a startup incubator isn’t the fulfilling job she thought it would be. Spending her nights going on dates with men she meets on a dating app, it doesn’t take long before she’s fed up with the creepy men she encounters online. Using her coding skills, she creates an app called JerkAlert to help weed out the harassers within these apps and before she knows it, the app goes viral. Unaware of how it would change her life, she’ll face the potential loss of a new relationship and a decision that will affect her, her career and those she loves. This is the perfect read for any woman who has been exposed to the oddities of online dating.
9. A Stranger on the Beach by Michele Campbell
If you loved the Dirty John podcast or the TV adaptation starring Connie Britton, you’ll want to get your hands on this novel ASAP. Caroline Stark lives an ideal life in the Hamptons with her family in their large beach house. But her life is suddenly turned upside down when she learns about her husband’s potential cheating habits. Deciding to pursue a romantic fling of her own, she catches the attention of local bartender Aidan and after spending one night together, she learns of his dangerous obsession with her. Before Caroline knows it, her husband is dead and she’ll be at the center of the investigation into his death.
10. You, Me, and the Sea by Meg Donohue
USA Today bestselling author Meg Donohue returns this summer with a novel about the importance of home and the dangers of first love. Merrow Shawe has always loved her small town of Horseshoe Cliff, spending her days with her father and cruel brother after the mysterious death of her mother. When Merrow’s family takes in Amir, her life is suddenly changed for the better as their whirlwind romance takes shape. But then tragedy strikes and if Merrow wants to escape the dangers that lie ahead, she’ll have to leave her beloved home and her first love behind.
11. The Last Book Party by Karen Dukess
Bibliophiles will love this new fictional book about the publishing world and the secrets that surround it. It’s 1987 and aspiring writer Eve Rosen has just been given the opportunity to attend a get together hosted by famous New Yorker writer Henry Grey. By the end of the night, she has a new job as Henry’s assistant and an exclusive invite to the family’s popular “Book Party.” Excited as she is by her new life as an insider in the literary community, she soon comes across uncomfortable secrets about this new world that will have her realizing it’s nothing like she expected.
12. Clover Blue by Eldonna Edwards
This coming-of-age novel by Eldonna Edwards speaks to the power of family and the importance of knowing where you come from. In 1970s Northern California, 12-year-old Clover Blue lives in the Saffron Freedom Community where he constantly questions the family he was originally born into. Asking the community’s guru questions about his past, he’ll come to realize that the idyllic commune he lives in isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be. Slowly, Clover will come to form his own definition of family and the kind of future he wants for himself.
13. Natalie Tan’s Book of Luck and Fortune by Roselle Lim
When Natalie Tan’s mother refused to accept her dreams of being a chef, Natalie left her home in Chinatown without looking back. Seven years later, Natalie learns of her mother’s passing and returns to her hometown one more time to say her final goodbyes. But arriving in Chinatown, she’s made aware that she is now the sole owner of her grandmother’s restaurant and will have to stick around and bring the place back to life. Struggling to bring it back to its former glory, she’ll meet a new friend and love interest who will commit to restoring the restaurant and neighborhood with Natalie. This touching new novel is the perfect read for those who love foodie fiction.
14. The Bride Test by Helen Hoang
Khai Diep has trouble with feelings due to his autism, making it hard for him to process emotions. Afraid that he won’t ever find a woman to love and marry, his mother travels to Vietnam to find him the perfect bride. Bringing back Esme Tran, she tries her best to teach Khai what it’s like to love and be loved. As she quickly develops feelings for Khai, she comes to a heartbreaking realization: Khai may never be able to love her back. If your book club loved Hoang’s The Kiss Quotient, picking this up as your summer read is a no-brainer.
15. You Cannot Mess This Up: A True Story That Never Happened by Amy Weinland Daughters
This time travel novel is the perfect read for readers who love movies like 13 Going on 30. When 46-year-old Amy Daughters embarks on a trip back to her hometown, she’s thrown for a major surprise when she’s transported back in time to 1978 and is now spending 36 hours with her family and 10-year-old self. With a new perspective on the family’s dynamics and the chance to connect with family members who are now deceased, she begins to reevaluate her familial relationships. When it’s time to return to her rightful time, she’s convinced that this experience will have a positive and lasting effect on her life.
