Living in New England the winter months can be brutally cold and feel never ending. There is nothing more relaxing to me than sitting in front of a fire with a book in hand on a snowy day…except for maybe sitting poolside on an island with a book in hand (and maybe a frozen drink, too). I read most of these next 10 books during our yearly escape from winter to the island of Aruba. Our kids have now hit an age where they don’t need/want us to be playing with them 24/7 so this Book Shark took full advantage of our time away from home. With these being mostly vacation reads you may see a trend of more fun, lighthearted titles in this collection. Take note: Summer is coming soon and there are a few here you don’t want to miss out on below…Enjoy!

“Sold on a Monday” by Kristina McMorris

Ellis Reed, a reporter for the Philadelphia Examiner in 1931 is out on assignment for the Society page when his car breaks down in the small town of Lauren Township. With his camera in hand, to pass the time he begins to snap pictures of what the Depression has done to the area. Ellis comes across two boys sitting on their run-down porch in front of a sign reading “2 Children for Sale.” Ellis is instantly flooded with memories of his own brother that passed away many years before and casually takes a picture of the duo. Through a series of accidental events, the photo ends up in front of Ellis’ boss who decides to give Ellis the big break that he has been dreaming about. When the photo gets accidentally damaged Ellis is told he needs to quickly take a replacement or his story will be scrapped. What Ellis decides to do next changes the course of his life as well as that of an unsuspecting innocent family. “Sold on a Monday” was inspired by a real life photo that author Kristina McMorris came across from 1948 of a mother selling her four children. This story is a slow burning tale of a desperate time in our country’s history that will keep you on edge as the effects of Ellis’ actions comes to a head. This a great read for fans of the Historical Fiction genre.

“Girls in White Dresses” by Jennifer Close

Lauren, Mary & Isabella are all best friends and former college roommates trying to navigate life after graduation. Lauren decides to move to New York and spends her days moping in the park before her waitressing shifts begin at a lousy restaurant. Mary finds herself working endless hours at her law firm and desperately crushing on her boss who just happens to be engaged. Isabella is hoping for her big break in the publishing world when not being held down by a series of unhealthy relationships. Even though distance separates the three women they remain a constant in each other’s lives as they quickly approach 30 and all the rest of their friends are getting married left and right. (The chapter with the never ending multiple showers for the same bride was a favorite.) The cast of characters in “Girls in White Dresses” is extensive. Each chapter reads more like a short story with our main trio weaved in to each plot. Though this snapshot format may be frustrating for some readers looking for more of a flowing plot, “Girls in White Dresses” was a fun, light read that was perfect for lazy vacation day.

“The Proposal” by Jasmine Guillory

What Nikole thought was going to be a casual outing to a Dodgers game for her boyfriend’s birthday turned out to be anything but. Nik wasn’t exactly head over heels for this guy but she had enjoyed their light-hearted dating for the past five months. While she was catching up on a work email to pass the time, Fisher drew Nik’s attention to the Jumbotron. “Nicole: I love you. Will you marry me? Fisher.” Was he serious? They had never once mentioned being in love, let alone getting married and now here he was on one knee proposing after spelling her name wrong in front of thousands of people. Stunned, Nik turns him down causing Fisher, an actor by trade, to storm off causing a dramatic scene. Mortified doesn’t even begin to describe how Nik feels being left alone as cameramen start to descend upon her section for more footage. Brother and sister, Carlos and Angie saw the proposal play out a few rows behind Nik. The duo decided to intervene at just the right moment cutting off the cameramen and whisking Nik to the safety of the parking lot. To repay them for their kindness, Nik offers to buy them dinner and drinks. When the evening ends you would expect Nik & Carlos to go their own separate ways but that pizza was only just the beginning. “The Proposal” is a great follow-up to Guillory’s “The Wedding Date” in which Carlos first appears. Definitely one to add to your TBR for your next vacation.

“The Blackbird Season” by Kate Moretti

When a thousand dead starlings fall out of the sky onto a high school baseball game in small town Mt. Oanoke, PA, it should have been a sign that dark things were to come. Coach Nick Winters is the kind of teacher that cares about the lives of his students, almost to a fault. He makes it his job to know what is going on outside of his classroom by secretly keeping tabs on his student’s social media accounts, offering up his cellphone number to anyone who wants it and having an open door at all times for those who want to talk. When a reporter in town to cover the birds gets a tip about a local teacher having an affair with a student, she snaps a picture of Nick embracing Lucia, one of his 17 year old students outside a motel. Nick’s wife Alicia, who spends every moment of her life taking care of their 5 year old autistic son, Gabe, completely denies any wrong doing on her husbands behalf but when Lucia goes missing, her suspicions begin to creep in. Nick is placed on leave at work and his only ally at the school is the Winter’s friend and fellow teacher, Bridget Harris. Bridget makes it her mission to uncover the truth behind Lucia’s disappearance, what really is behind the bullying and the rumors of her being a witch as well as clear her friend Nick’s name as the entire town turns their back on the once beloved coach. Kate Moretti has written a page-turning thriller that keeps you guessing about what really happened at that motel and where has Lucia been after that dark night on the road.

“The Perfect Couple” by Elin Hilderbrand

The wedding of the year is about to happen on Nantucket. Greer Garrison Winbury has planned the most perfect weekend down to the very last detail for her son Benji’s wedding. His bride, Celeste Otis, has let her take the lead due to her mother’s recent cancer relapse. They even moved the wedding date to early July to be sure that Karen Otis would be able to attend. Friday night’s wedding rehearsal had to be canceled due to the Reverend getting stuck but the clam bake rehearsal dinner went on without a hitch. Speeches were said, cocktails were consumed and as the night was coming to a close the wedding party headed into town to keep the party going. The next morning, the wedding planner arrived early to the Winbury estate to supervise a delivery for the Big Day when he finds Celeste down by the shore, hysterical and trying to pull her maid of honor, Merritt Monaco, out of the water. Merritt is dead. The job of figuring out what happened to her falls on Chief Ed Kapenash. Everyone at the Winbury estate is a suspect and needs to be questioned. The secrets he will uncover will tear the “perfect” Winbury family to pieces. “The Perfect Couple” is an intriguing whodunit. Written from multiple POVs while skipping between present day and flashing back to the early dating days of Celeste and Benji, Hilderbrand has written another perfect summer read.

“Maine” by J. Courtney Smith

After winning a bet in 1945, the Kelleher family acquire a 3 acre plot of land on the coast of Cape Neddick, Maine. There, Daniel builds his wife, Alice, their dream summer escape. Every year the Kellehers spend their summers there with their 3 children and as time passes their children’s children as well. After Daniel passes away from cancer, Alice continues to summer there in the big house while her children spend one month each at the cottage, no longer able to stand each other’s company. Alice has returned to drinking heavily, a habit she put aside for Daniel. Kathleen, the oldest Kelleher daughter and the June cottage owner, has put the entire continent between herself and Alice, now living in California. She wouldn’t dream of stepping foot back in Maine and hasn’t for over ten years. The two have a toxic relationship – Alice blaming Kathleen for not convincing Daniel to treat his cancer and Kathleen blaming Alice for, well, pretty much everything. Kathleen’s eldest daughter, Maggie still visits during her family’s month, this time bringing with her a secret. Anne Marie, Alice’s daughter-in-law whose martyr complex when it comes to her duties within the Kelleher family are abounding, has the perfect month of July at the cottage and in her opinion should someday inherit the property. After all she is the only one who truly cares about Alice. Family tensions explode when these four headstrong women all come crashing together in J. Courtney Sullivan’s, “Maine”. For fellow New Englanders, like myself, you will love being transported to places like Perkins Cove, Ogunquit’s Marginal Way as well as famous Boston landmarks. Though the Kelleher women are not in the slightest bit endearing, you keep hoping for a change of course in their ill-fated paths.

“Two Days Gone” by Randall Silvis

Author and Professor Thomas Huston’s family has just been found murdered in their own home and Thomas is no where to be found. Naturally, this makes him Detective Ryan DeMarco’s number one suspect. DeMarco and Huston have a history together. DeMarco had recently helped Huston develop an understanding of police procedures for the novel he was working on. Now DeMarco can’t understand how the man he thought to be a thoughtful, genuine, family man snapped and committed this terrible crime. After turning to Huston’s writing journal for clues, DeMarco starts to piece together the mystery of what really happened to Claire Huston and their three children. Notes and rough outlines for his next book guide the Detective on a dangerous journey to uncovering the truth about who Thomas Huston really is, perpetrator or innocent victim. Alternating between DeMarco’s investigation and Huston’s narrative while on the run Randall Silvis has written a suspense filled story that will keep you guessing until the very last page. “Two Days Gone” may not be for all readers with graphic descriptions of crime scenes, strong language and some violence throughout but fans of thrillers/crime mysteries will find this one hard to put down.

“Small Great Things” by Jodi Picoult

Ruth Jefferies, has been working as a Labor and Delivery Nurse at a New Haven hospital for over 20 years. She is the best there is, mentoring all of the ward’s nurses including the woman who is now her supervisor. At the start of her shift, Ruth enters the room of a new mother to do a routine examination of a baby born the night before. Brittany & Turk Bauer are not welcoming to Ruth, she can feel a tension in the room the moment sge enters but goes about her job. Baby Davis’ father finally speaks and tells Ruth that he wants to speak to her supervisor. Unsure what she did wrong she waits to hear what the issue is. Ruth is told she is no longer allowed to have any contact with the Bauer family per the family’s wishes. You see, the Bauers are White Supremacists and they don’t want a black nurse treating their son. Things spiral downward after this and Ruth’s job, future and freedom are all put on the line. Active and passive racism are heavily debated throughout Jodi Picoult’s exemplary story. “Small Great Things” alternates perspective between Ruth, Turk and Ruth’s public defender Kennedy. All three providing eye-opening perspectives on the same events. By having such polarizing characters Picoult has provided the reader many thought provoking moments to sit with, digest and question their own prejudice and preconceptions. This is an important read and one you should have on your TBR list.

“The Light of Paris” by Eleanor Brown

Madeline’s life isn’t exactly how she dreamed it would be. Due to constant pressure by her parents she gave up on her dream of being an artist to marry someone who is now emotionally abusive and controlling. After another one of their fights, Madeline heads back home to Magnolia to visit her mother. Upon arrival she discovers that her mother has decided to sell her childhood home. While Madeline is going through the attic she comes across a trunk full of old journals that belong to her grandmother, Margie. Madeline begins to dive into the world of Paris 1924 getting to know the woman her grandmother was before she became the steely matriarch that she knew. Finding ironic parallels in their lives Madeline wonders if she has the strength her grandmother did when starting over on the other side of the Atlantic. “The Light of Paris” is a multi-POV story alternating between Madeline’s present day 1999 and Margie’s life in 1924, when the most scandalous thing a woman could do was bob her hair and dress in flapper fashion. Eleanor Brown has dreamed up realistic characters that are both flawed and beautiful. Bonus points for this gorgeous cover!

“Other People’s Houses” by Abbi Waxman

Francis is the quintessential stay-at-home mom. She is the neighborhood carpool driver, she volunteers at her children’s school, she is the emergency contact for several of her friends and she is the one who accidentally begins to unravel the neighborhood’s secrets. Francis & Michael, Iris & Sara, Anne & Charlie, and Bill & Julie are all friends who live on the same street and rely on each other to keep their families going. One morning during carpool Anne’s daughter remembers she left something at home and Francis offers to run back and get it. Upon arriving at Anne & Charlie’s, however, Francis finds herself placed in an impossible situation that eventually will pull the group apart. “Other People’s Houses” is a multi-POV that is so quirky and hilarious. Abbi Waxman has created an entire neighborhood of characters that are brilliantly flawed, realistic and relatable. While reading this I kept thinking that this would make a perfect TV show. Looking at you, Netflix! Be sure to add this to your TBR list for the next time you need a little escape from your day to day. 

Til next time,

E

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