Summer Reads

If you’re looking for something to keep you on the edge of your seat this summer, then a thrilling page-turner is just what you need. These books will keep you up all night, unable to put them down until you find out what happens next. My past top thriller picks include Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn and The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins. This Summer I am reading The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides and The Housemaid by Freida McFadden. These books are packed with suspense and will keep you guessing until the very end.

If you’re feeling inspired to try some new recipes this summer, a cookbook might be just what you need. Whether you’re an experienced chef or just starting out in the kitchen, there are plenty of cookbooks out there to suit your needs. During the summer in New England there are so many choices for fresh vegetables and fruits so one of my favorite cookbooks is The Love and Lemons Cookbook: An Apple-to-Zucchini Celebration of Impromptu Cooking by Jeanine Donofrio. Organized by ingredient, The Love & Lemons Cookbook teaches readers how to make beautiful food with what’s on hand, whether it’s a bunch of rainbow-colored heirloom carrots from the farmers market or a four-pound cauliflower that just shows up in a CSA box.

Summer is a great time for self-reflection and personal growth, and what better way to do that than with a self-improvement book? From books on mindfulness to those on productivity and success, there are plenty of options out there to help you achieve your goals. I will usually have two books going on at once, one for self improvement and one for fun. This summer I am reading Think like a Monk by Jay Shetty. Combining ancient wisdom and his own rich experiences in the ashram, Think Like a Monk reveals how to overcome negative thoughts and habits, and access the calm and purpose that lie within all of us.

If you’re an animal lover, like me you are always trying to find ways to learn how to take better care of our furry friends. The Forever Dog is a pathbreaking guide where two of the world’s most popular and trusted pet care advocates reveal new science to teach us how to delay aging and provide a long, happy, healthy life for our canine companions. If we could only be so lucky that they live forever, but we can try to keep them healthy for as long as possible! SPOILER ALERT, the advice isn’t much different from how we should be taking care of ourselves.

Who doesn’t love a good RomCom? I love them in movie form and I also love them in book form. Augustus Everett is an acclaimed author of literary fiction. January Andrews writes bestselling romance. When she pens a happily ever after, he kills off his entire cast. They’re polar opposites, but for the summer they are living next door to each other in neighboring beach houses. To find out exactly how it all unfolds, read the light and refreshing Beach Read by Emily Henry.

I couldn’t complete a reading list without putting Those Left Behind written by my husband Robert Mayer. Is our life ruled by chance, and what about our afterlife? After a fall separates his body and spirit, Adam Glass finds himself drifting in a realm between life and death. This book is a beautifully written emotional journey, and it will make you think differently about life after you have read it.