Beach Reads
Spring has finally arrived on the island! The grass is greener, the birds are singing, the flowers are blooming, and everyone is getting ready for another summer season. Summer will be here before you know it and you’ll hopefully have time to relax with a book in your hand. Here are some of my favorite titles from the winter that you might have missed.
“Beautiful Ugly” by Alice Feeney
Grady Green, an author, is on the phone with his wife, Abby, who is driving home when she slams on the brakes, gets out of the car and then total silence. He finds her car by the edge of a cliff. The lights are on, the door is open, and her phone is there but she is nowhere to be found. Grief overcomes him, and after a year of not sleeping and not being able to write he travels to a small Scottish island to get away from it all and try to get his life back. But then he sees the impossible – a woman who looks exactly like his missing wife. This leads to a series of events that are both intriguing and unsettling. The book is full of twists and turns, with a setting that adds to the suspense. The characters are well-developed, especially Grady, whose perspective becomes increasingly unreliable as the story unfolds. “Beautiful Ugly” by Alice Feeney is a gripping psychological thriller that will keep you guessing.
“The Frozen River” by Ariel Lawhon
In 1789, Martha Ballard, a midwife and healer in Maine, is called upon to examine a body entombed in the Kennebec River’s ice. Her diary chronicles every birth, death, and scandal in the close-knit community of Hallowell. Months earlier, she documented an alleged rape by two respected townsmen, one of whom is now dead. When a local physician disputes her conclusion that the death was a murder, Martha decides to investigate on her own. As the trial approaches, Martha’s diary becomes crucial evidence, implicating those she cares about and forcing her to confront her own loyalties. Ariel Lawhon’s novel, “The Frozen River,” tells the story of Martha’s courageous pursuit of justice in a time when women’s voices were often silenced. It’s a thrilling and tender tale about a remarkable woman who left a lasting legacy.
“Famous Last Words” by Gillian McAllister
On the longest day of the year, Camilla’s life is poised for a dramatic shift. As she prepares to return to her job as a literary agent after maternity leave, she faces an unexpected crisis. Her husband Luke is missing, replaced by a mysterious note. The situation escalates when news breaks of a hostage situation in London, and the police reveal that Luke is at the center of it – but not as a victim. Instead, he’s the one holding the gun. Camilla’s next moves are crucial, as she’s the only one who knows the cryptic message Luke left behind. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that their marriage holds more secrets than Camilla ever imagined. “Famous Last Words” is a gripping tale of crime, deception, and the impossible choices that test the bonds of love and loyalty.
“The Favorites” by Layne Fargo
Katarina Shaw never had the advantages of fame or family backing, but she was convinced she was born to shine on the ice as an Olympic skater. Her life changed when she met Heath Rocha, a foster kid with a similar passion for escape through skating. Together, they formed an unstoppable duo, captivating audiences with their fiery chemistry and rebellious style. From childhood sweethearts to champion ice dancers, their roller-coaster relationship enthralled the world. But everything came crashing down with a shocking incident at the Olympics. Now, as the anniversary of their final performance approaches, a provocative documentary threatens to redefine their legacy. Kat is forced to confront her past when the documentary promises to reveal the “real story” behind their partnership. Determined to reclaim her narrative, Kat breaks her decade-long silence to share the truth about her bond with Heath, the tragedies that shaped them, and the desires that ultimately drove them apart. The rumors have been sensational, but the truth might be even more explosive.
“The Stolen Queen” by Fiona Davis
In 1936, Charlotte Cross lands a coveted spot on an archaeological dig in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings, but her excitement is short-lived as tragedy strikes. Decades later, in 1978 New York City, Annie Jenkins scores a dream job working with the legendary Diana Vreeland on the iconic Met Gala. Meanwhile, Charlotte has reinvented herself as a curator at the Met’s Egyptian Art Department, obsessed with uncovering the truth about Hathorkare, a female pharaoh dismissed by other Egyptologists. On the night of the gala, disaster hits when a priceless artifact vanishes, and whispers of Hathorkare’s curse begin to circulate. Annie and Charlotte form an unlikely alliance to track down the missing relic, leading them on a perilous journey back to Egypt – a place to which Charlotte had vowed never to return. To succeed, Charlotte must confront the dark secrets of her past, risking everything to uncover the truth and face the danger that awaits them.
“We All Live Here” by Jojo Moyes
In the vibrant landscape of Jojo Moyes returns with her trademark warmth and wit, celebrating the beauty of imperfect families and the power of love in all its messy forms. Lila Kennedy’s life is a whirlwind of chaos: a marriage on the rocks, two daughters navigating their own paths, a house in disrepair, and an elderly stepfather who has made himself at home. Her career is in shambles, and her love life is a tangled web. Just when things can’t get more complicated, her estranged father shows up on her doorstep after a 35-year absence. But as Lila navigates this unexpected reunion, she discovers that even the family members we think we can’t forgive might hold the key to understanding what love and family truly mean.
