Labor Day marked the unofficial end of summer, and most Americans have less downtime to read a book. The pools close. Beach vacations have come and gone. Kids are back in school. Responsibilities ramp up again. In an effort to offer book suggestions outside my own reading, I asked my friends and followers on social media to share their favorite books of the summer. They have a wide range of interests, and I added a couple suggestions to my own “To Be Read” log.
Here are five books friends recommend:
- The Women by Kristin Hannah is a historical fiction novel about a young nurse serving in Vietnam, the unexpected chaos she finds there and the battles she fights when she returns home. It is by far the most recommended book by my friends. *I gave the story 5 Stars!
- James by Percival Everett is a reimagining of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from Jim’s point of view. Both the book and audiobook have been recommended. *I am using an Audible credit for this one.
- Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania by Erik Larson weaves the thread of events that led to the sinking of the Lusitania in this narrative nonfiction book. *I have not read it.
- The God of the Woods by Liz Moore is a mystery about the disappearance of a 13-year-old camper in the summer of 1975. *I enjoyed The Unseen World by Moore, so this book is in the short stack on my nightstand.
- The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley is a near future time travel romance. If you like British humor, the audiobook is highly recommended. *I have not read this novel.
What are your favorite reads of the summer of 2024? The Book Whisperer and readers would like to know.
Look for these recommendations and other books at Knox County Online Library or your local independent bookstore each week.
Linda Sullivan is an avid reader and wants to make you one, too. For more recommendations or just to talk books, reach out to her at thebookwhisperertn@gmail.com. She can also be found @thebookwhisperertn on Instagram.