Gripping Reads And Summer Staples: The Best Books To Sink Your Teeth Into Right Now

Whether you need a gripping read poolside or you’re looking for something entertaining for bright evenings in your garden, Megan Roantree knows which spines to crack

New Faves

With so much hype around so many new books, we recommend the reads that are worth your precious time…

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

For years, rumours of the ‘Marsh Girl’ haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet town on the North Carolina coast. So in late 1969, when handsome Chase Andrews is found dead, the locals immediately suspect Kya Clark, the so-called Marsh Girl. But Kya is not what they say. Sensitive and intelligent, she has survived for years alone in the marsh that she calls home. The time comes when she yearns to be touched and loved. When two young men from town become intrigued by her wild beauty, Kya opens herself to a new life–until the unthinkable happens. A heartbreaking coming-of-age story, with a dark element of possible murder.

 

The Overdue Life of Amy Byler by Kelly Arms

If you’re looking for something funny with a likeable character get to know single mom Amy Byler on her new journey of guilt-ridden the guilt-ridden husband who abandoned her shows up and o ers to take care of their kids for the summer, she accepts his offer and escapes rural Pennsylvania for NYC. Usually grounded and mild-mannered, Amy finally lets her hair down in the city that never sleeps. She discovers a life filled with culture, sophistication, and—with a little encouragement from her friends—a few blind dates. When one man, in particular, makes quick work of Amy’s heart, she risks losing herself completely in the unexpected escape, and as the summer comes to an end, Amy realises too late that she must make an impossible decision.

 

When All Is Said by Anne Griffin

At the bar of a grand hotel in a small Irish town sits 84-year-old Maurice Hannigan. He’s alone, as usual – though tonight is anything but. Pull up a stool and charge your glass, because Maurice is finally ready to tell his story. Over the course of this evening, he will raise ve toasts to the ve people who have meant the most to him. Through these stories – of unspoken joy and regret, a secret tragedy kept hidden, a fierce love that never found its voice – the life of one man will be poignantly laid bare. Beautiful storytelling, a heartfelt and powerful observation of the human condition.

 

Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover

Born to survivalists in the mountains of Idaho, Tara Westover was 17 when she first set foot in a classroom. Her family was so isolated that there was no one to ensure the children received an education. When her brother got into college, Tara decided to try a new kind of life. Her quest for knowledge transformed her, taking her over oceans and across continents, to Harvard and to Cambridge University. Only then would she wonder if she’d travelled too far, if there was still a way home. A stunning memoir which was among the best books of the year.

 

Her Kind by Niamh Boyce

A woman seeks refuge for herself and her daughter in the household of a childhood friend. Her friend, Alice Kytler, gives her former companion
a new name, Petronelle, a job as a servant, and warns her to hide their old connection. Petronelle quickly comes to understand that in the city pride, greed and envy are as dangerous as the wolves that prowl the savage countryside. And she realizes that Alice’s household is no place of safety. Once again, Petronelle decides to flee. But this time she confronts forces greater than she could ever have imagined and she finds herself fighting for more than her freedom. This is a fast-paced, deeply descriptive story is one of Eason’s best sellers.

Summer Staples 

Vicki Loves: Summer Sisters by Judy Blume

I re-read this every summer because it’s so evocative of the freedom of the season. It’s also a beautifully written reflection on friendship, betrayal, love and sex. If you want a slightly dirty yet also meaningful novel to read by the pool, this is for you.
Classic summer reads that have stood the test of time and remain popular after years on the shelves.

Megan Rereads: Brooklyn by Colm Toibin

Eilis is forced to leave Ireland for America due to scarce opportunities in Wexford. She moves into a house full of strong women and is faced with a di cult choice about love and loss. ere’s lovely moments too. Worth a read by the pool.

P.S I Love You by Cecelia Ahern

Cecelia Ahern recently revealed a sequel is on the way so there’s no better time to laugh and cry with Holly following the death of her husband Gerry, as she receives letter after letter from him which he wrote before he died.

 

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Ifemelu and Obinze are young and in love when they depart military-ruled Nigeria. Ifemelu heads
for America, where she grapples with what it means to be black. Obinze instead plunges into a dangerous life in London. 15 years later, they reunite in Nigeria, and reignite their passion.

Valerie’s Pick: The Secret History by Donna Tartt

A group of misfits at an elite New England college discover a way of living that’s a world away from the humdrum existence
of their contemporaries. But when they go beyond the boundaries of morality their lives are changed forever. ey discover how hard it can be to truly live and how easy it is to kill.

Team STELLAR Picks:

Old and new, these are the books that team Stellar would read again and again.

 

Megan picks: Almost Love by Louise O’Neill

So many will identify with Sarah in this story. When Sarah falls for Matthew, she falls hard. So it doesn’t matter that he’s 20 years older or that he sees her only in secret, or that slowly but surely, she’s sacrificing everything else in her life to be with him. Sarah’s friends are worried and she’s on the verge of losing her job. But Sarah can’t help it. She is addicted to being desired by Matthew. If you’ve ever been messed around by a cocky guy – who hasn’t? – this book is for you. It’s one you can devour again and again and pick up on different aspects of the relationship each time. Much less intense than O’Neill’s previous novels like Asking For It, but equally well written, and one that every woman should read.

Victoria loves: From The Corner Of The Oval Office by Beck Dorey- Stein

This is the first book in a long while that I haven’t been able to put down. It’s the autobiographical story of Beck, who by chance, finds herself working as a stenographer in Obama’s oval office. While it gives fascinating glimpses into the behind the scenes and inner workings of the West Wing, it’s also a great tale about a woman finding her way in the world, heartbreaks and all

 

Valerie picks: Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup by John Carreyrou 

Everyone I know has been obsessed with the Theranos scandal this year. If you’re not familiar, Theranos was a company founded in 2003 by Elizabeth Holmes, a college dropout who promised to revolutionise the medical industry with a machine that could conduct thousands of tests on a single drop of blood. She was hailed as the new Steve Jobs and became the youngest self- made female billionaire. Just one problem – her technology never worked, and she’s now facing up to 20 years in prison for defrauding investors.