Sunlight Finds You

By Laura Moriarty/Book Review

Nora moves with her family to St. Petersburg, Florida, then a sleepy little beach town. Her father has finally remarried, and Nora and her siblings are ready for a fresh start. She is a studious high school student—kind, intelligent, and seemingly incapable of telling a lie. One day she meets Leonard, a boy a year ahead of her, in the school courtyard. They connect over their shared love of reading and quickly become inseparable. Leonard is brilliant, with a bright future that has been meticulously planned by his overbearing parents. Nora does not fit into those plans, and as the young couple grows more serious, Leonard’s parents will do whatever it takes to protect their precious son. Although Nora’s stepmother, Mae, tries to be understanding, it is the early 1950s, and single women, sex, and anything considered promiscuous are not treated with tolerance or compassion. Without giving away any spoilers, this is a heartfelt story about young love and the kinds of secrets that can fester within a family. I really enjoyed this quick read, my first by Laura Moriarty (no relation to Liane), and highly recommend it. Releases August 4. Thanks NetGalley for the early peek! ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ungodly Rich By Katharine McGee

Julia and Harry are an adorable young couple living a simple, adventurous life in New Zealand. They are in love and happily getting by, until Julia discovers that Harry is not the T-shirt-wearing beach bum he claimed to be. When Harry reconnects with the family he has avoided for three years, Julia is stunned to learn that he comes from an wealthy and famous New York dynasty. Suddenly, their engagement sweeps her into a dazzling world of billionaires, high society, extravagant wedding plans, and relatives who seem determined to meddle in their relationship. What Julia does not know is that Harry is actually Ares, the immortal god of war, and his parents are Zeus and Hera. The entire family is hiding its true identity from her because Julia is a mere mortal. Each of the gods has a reason for believing Julia does not belong with their beloved Harry. Ungodly Rich is fast-paced, entertaining, mysterious, and incredibly creative. I loved the combination of romance, family drama and ancient mythology brought into the modern world. It was unlike anything I have read before, and it's probably more fun to go into it without knowing too much! ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Mad Mabel

For more than sixty years, Elsie Fitzpatrick has lived on this small, quiet street where neighbors look out for one another almost as often as they complain. Now eighty-one, Elsie is perpetually grumpy, fiercely private, and perfectly content keeping to herself. Then Persephone arrives. Precocious, persistent, and only seven, Persephone decides that Elsie is going to be her best friend and will stop at absolutely nothing to make that happen. Elsie may believe she is immune to the charms of a feisty little girl, but Persephone has other ideas. Meanwhile, across the street, mean-spirited Joan begins digging into Elsie’s past. Joan’s nephew is a lawyer, you mustn’t forget that, and when she discovers that Elsie is the infamous “Mad Mabel,” life on Kenny Lane will never be the same again. This laugh-out-loud mystery is filled with nosy neighbors, secrets, unexpected friendships, and so much heart. I adored the relationship between Elsie and Persephone, and loved watching this quirky little street come alive. Sally Hepworth balances humor, mystery, and emotion, creating the most wonderful characters! I loved every minute of this perfect summer read! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Breathing Under Water

Berry is an elementary school vice principal who is very good at her job and eager to become principal when the position opens in the fall. At home, her attention is focused on her teenage son, Leo. Bright, sweet, and autistic, Leo struggles socially, and Berry is determined to prepare him for college and future independence. McKenna is a talented local college swimmer pursuing a nursing degree while facing many challenges that threaten everything she has worked toward. When she begins teaching swim lessons to autistic children at the local country club, Leo joins her as an assistant. And the two form a bond. As Berry’s and McKenna’s plans begin to unravel, their paths cross in unexpected ways, leaving both women struggling to keep their heads above water. I especially enjoyed Leo, who is wonderfully likable and fully developed rather than defined solely by his autism. The swimming world added another interesting layer, making this novel an engaging story about family, friends, unexpected connections, and finding your way when life pulls you under. ⭐⭐⭐

The Amateur

Mira Winston is a teenage golf prodigy in the late 1970s—a shining star in her affluent little town and virtually untouchable at the local country club, where she’s been playing alongside grown men since she was fourteen. As she prepares to begin her freshman year at Yale, a routine practice session turns into an unimaginable tragedy. A summer caddie, Kenny, whom she knows from school, is standing on the other side of the driving range net when one of Mira’s golf balls tears through it, striking him in the head. He dies. Told from Mira’s point of view, this novel goes places you will never see coming. It’s suspenseful, gripping, witty, and brilliantly written. This novel explores guilt, privilege, grief, and the ripple effects of a single devastating moment with incredible depth. Be prepared to be completely mesmerized.  I’ve read a ton of books by Chris Bohjalian, but this may be my favorite. You won’t be getting up from your beach chair anytime soon. Thanks to Netgalley for the sneak peek! Releases August 4th! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Slanting Towards the Sea

Ten years ago, Ivona divorced Vlaho. She has suffered through every minute of every day since, watching his life move forward while hers has sadly remained in place. Now approaching forty, Ivona is caring for her ill father while doing everything in her power to save his failing business. As she manages the most basic demands of daily life, she reflects on her marriage, her choices and exactly how she ended up here. What could her future possibly look like when she still cannot let go of the past? Set in Croatia, this novel is a simple, quiet story filled with love, sadness, regret and the ordinary responsibilities that continue even when life feels broken. There is something incredibly beautiful about it, despite or perhaps because of all that loss. It is mind-blowing that this exquisitely written book was a debut novel. It took me a year to finally pull it from my enormous TBR, but I am so glad I did. If it has been sitting on your list too, it is absolutely worth reading this summer. Promise. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐