You’ve got your summer all planned out.
Weekends with the kids are starting to fill in between trips and festivals. You’ve got a few household chores planned, some exploring around town, a bit of a roadtrip, and plenty of dates with a cold one in the backyard.
So what are you going to read this year? Consider these great suggestions.
June
Once summer officially starts, load up on novels. Mary Kay Andrews has a new one coming out, and so do Carl Hiaasen, Dorothea Benton Frank, Jeannette Walls, Barbara Delinsky, Marsha Clark, and James Patterson (with Howard Roughan).
There’s a new bio on Willie, Waylon, and Kris Kristofferson due in June. Jen Lancaster comes out with another great book. You’ll also find biographies by farmer Mardi Jo Link, and a new book about President Obama.
Historians will love June’s offerings: a book on the 1936 Berlin Olympics, one about the wives of early astronauts, a book about the Revolutionary War, and a book about American prosperity in each of the 50 states.
There’s also a great book for dog lovers coming up in June, as well as some fun crafts books, yummy cookbooks, and a new Dr. Who book.
July
Summer might be halfway over, but the parade of new books is NOT!
Jump into July with a new novel by Laurell K. Hamilton, Jude Devereaux, or Karin Slaughter. Then work your way through the month with others by Catherine Coulter, Chuck Klosterman, Iris Johansen, Chris Bohjalian, Carole Radziwell, Zane, and Danielle Steele.
There are a lot of books for self-improvement coming out this month: one on dating, one on mating, some on making your life better, and a humorous book on epic fails in life and love. You’ll also find some great summertime cookbooks in July, too.
Look for a new book about Orson Welles, a book for new teachers, a rockin’ new book on the Rolling Stones, and some fun new crossword puzzle books.
August
You might be winding down your summertime, but the books keep on coming.
Look for last-minute-of-the-season books by James Patterson (with David Ellis) to begin the month. Then plow through new novels by Faye Kellerman, Anne Rivers Siddons, Erica Spindler, Karen Robards, Debbie Macomber, Diane Mott Davidson, Edwidge Danticat, Emma McLaughlin, and Kathy Reichs.
There’s a new financial book coming out by Clark Howard in August, an autobiography by Ricky Skaggs, and a pile of new cookbooks to take you into fall.
And now for the disclaimer: some books can be cancelled or rescheduled. This isn’t a definitive list. And if you didn’t see your favorite author or subject on this list, then ask your favorite bookseller or librarian for more excellent suggestions. Guess what? They love to tell you about the books they love!
Happy summer and happy reading!
Terri Schlichenmeyer has been reading since she was 3 years old, and she never goes anywhere without a book. She lives on a hill with two dogs and 12,000 books.
