For us writers and editors, books are our lifeblood, and we read because we must. To be honest, I sometimes listen to books because I spend about 2.5 hours in the car, driving four kids to 4 different schools, on the regular. I read (or listen) to books that suit my mood, assigned in my book club, recommended by friends and fellow entrepreneurs, and even books I assume I will hate, just because I want a challenge. So what have I read lately? Here are my book recommendations for July. Have you read any of these? {This post contains affiliate links.}
- To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee – A classic most of us read in middle school, right? Well, since I grew up in Mexico I didn’t read this book until I was a young adult. I remember liking it, but it didn’t make much of an impact. Then I read it again recently for my Book Club and fell in love. This book is a perfect example of how books transform over time—or maybe we are the ones that transform. Atticus, Scout, Jem, Calpurnia, Boo and so many other characters were so perfectly developed and had a unique voice that made you love and hate them. Although published in 1960, the story is just as relevant today as it was then. Regardless of where you stand on the issues raised by Harper Lee in this book, it is sure to make you think and reconsider your position on social and racial issues we still face today. If you read this book when you were younger, I urge to read it again.
- Thin Is the New Happy by Valerie Frankel – As a society, we are weight and image obsessed. From diets to Botox to teeth whitening and plastic surgery, we want to look our best at all times. There are endless calorie counter apps and weight loss programs that guarantee results in just 7 days! I for one have tried a ton of diets and workout programs to lose and tighten all the areas I am less than thrilled with. Author Valerie Frankel has too, and in his book, opens up about her obsession with dieting, losing and gaining weight. She is hilarious, honest, and raw about the forces that drove her to her weight obsession and how she stopped the cycle so she could be happy and be a positive influence for her daughters. Although this is a light read, it does expose the myths in our culture telling us that Thin Is the New Happy.
- What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty – You have heard of Liane Moriarty, right? The author of Little Big Lies, now an HBO series? She has a gift for writing stories that keep you up until 3 a.m. reading because you have to know what happened, who did it and what the truth is. In What Alice Forgot Moriarty offers a rare glimpse into the ‘what if’ I made a different choice. When Alice loses her memory in a minor accident, her entire life changes. With each turn of the page, you are rooting for her and then against her. This book makes you wonder about the way your own life has unfolded and if you would do it all differently.
- You by Caroline Kepnes – This book is a suspenseful, page-turner and the main character, Joe, is downright creepy. He’s the guy you hope never to meet but is likely the guy that makes your coffee at Starbucks every morning. It’s a tale of obsession, insanity, violence, and a warped interpretation of love. Although Joe is clearly unstable, the depths of his instability reaches new levels with every turning page. It’s a must read, and you will be sure to close your curtains at home.
- The Widow by Fiona Barton – This tragic story takes many twists and turns, and just when you think you have figured it out, it takes you in a different direction. You alternate feeling pity, sympathy, disgust, and every emotion in between for the Widow and her husband. There is more than one victim in this story and arguably more than one perpetrator. This book makes you think about whether guilt by omission is just as heinous as the person who actually commits the crime. You will have to wait until the last few pages to find out the truth.
What have you been reading this summer? I would love to know!
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