Recommendations for summer reads
Whether you’re headed for a beach vacation or just a porch with a cool breeze, summer is the perfect time to lose yourself in a good book.
What to read? Here are recommendations from local libraries, book sellers and others for books to keep you entertained through Labor Day.
GENERAL FICTION
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store, by James McBride
From the author of the modern classic memoir The Color of Water.
Recommended by: MainStreet BookEnds in Warner. “This is storytelling at its very best. A wonderful mix of Jewish immigrants and African Americans in the 1920s, forming bonds of loyalty in the poorest part of an emerging Pennsylvania city.”
Margo’s Got Money Troubles, by Rufi Thorpe
The publisher’s description starts, “As the child of a Hooters waitress and an ex-pro wrestler, Margo Millet’s always known she’d have to make it on her own.”
Recommended by: Erin Pastore, operations coordinator at Water Street Bookstore in Exeter. “Just absolutely hilarious. … Very heartwarming story of a young mom.”
By Any Other Name, by Jodi Picoult
A novel about two women, centuries apart, one of whom is the real author of Shakespeare’s plays.
Recommended by: Tanya Ricker, library director at Whipple Free Library in New Boston.
“Jodi has been my favorite author since I was in high school and saw her speak at a journalism conference. … This book, she has said, is the book of her heart, the book she feels she was meant to write. You can tell how deeply she feels about it when you read it. I loved the details, the research, the way it made me think and question things I thought that I knew.”
Remarkably Bright Creatures, by Shelby Van Pelt
A charming novel about a woman who works the night shift at an aquarium.
Recommended by: Jo Flynn at Bookery in Manchester. “It’s a restore-your-faith-in-humanity type of read.” Also recommended by Susan S., Library Director at Seabrook Library.
All Our Yesterdays: A Novel of Lady Macbeth, by Joel H. Morris
A debut novel set 10 years before the events of Shakespeare’s play.
Recommended by: Jan Locke at Balin Books in Nashua. “Definitely for fans of Hamnet! There is still a love story intertwined, but the times are much more visceral. Lady Macbeth’s character development from young girl to queen is quite powerful. Of course, there are witches!”
The Women, by Kristin Hannah
Young nursing student goes to Vietnam to follow her brother and joins the Army Nurse Corps.
Recommended by: Andy Richmond, director of Rye Public Library. “[Because Vietnam] from a female perspective is not really addressed anywhere else in novel form … [this book] opened a lot of people’s eyes I think.”
Night Watch, by Jayne Anne Phillips
Pulitzer-winning novel about a mother and daughter surviving war and its aftermath.
Recommended by: Ken Kozick, proprietor of Sheafe Street Books in Portsmouth. “Like One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest but 100 years before Cuckoo’s Nest, just after the Civil War.”
Recommended by Zachary Lewis, Hippo features writer:
Welcome to the Monkeyhouse by Kurt Vonnegut “is a collection of really cool, absurd stories. Each one is great. Breakfast of Champions is my favorite of his novels but The Sirens of Titan is a close second. Vonnegut is one of the most sincere and authentic writers.”
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon “is an awesome tale about the creation of comic books, escape artists from pre-war Europe, and the connection of family in all its iterations.”
1666, by Lora Chilton
A story about Patawomeck women living through the decimation of their tribe in Virginia.
Recommended by: MainStreet BookEnds. “Historical fiction at its best. … Told through the eyes of two women, it is a piece of our history that is finally being discovered and told.”
Long Island, by Colm Tóibín
An Irish woman living on Long Island in the 1970s faces an unexpected situation.
Recommended by: Andy Richmond, director of Rye Public Library.
American Spirits, by Russell Banks
The final collection of stories by the author before his death in 2023.
Recommended by: Liz Ryan, adult programming coordinator at Derry Public Library. “[Banks] was an incredible creative voice in fiction.”
North Woods: A Novel, by Daniel Mason
A story about a house in New England, told through the lives of its inhabitants over the centuries.
Recommended by: Emerson Sistare, owner of Toadstool Books in Peterborough. “Flat out, one of the best books I have read in the last number of years. Mason’s prose and ability to weave and bounce between genres elevate this book to lofty heights. A triumphant anthem to the beauty of New England and its people.”
The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell, by Robert Dugoni
A coming-of-age story about a boy born with red pupils, called “Devil Boy” by his classmates.
Recommended by: Diane C., circulation assistant at Seabrook Library. “This book is very inspiring!”
Fire Exit, by Morgan Talty
The story of a young man who grew up with his mother and stepfather on a reservation in Maine but must move away when he turns 18 because he is not native.
Recommended by: Erin Pastore, operations coordinator at Water Street Bookstore in Exeter. “It’s a really deep family story. Wickedly funny at times while also being very serious about issues of native reservations.”
All the Light We Cannot See, by Anthony Doerr
Pulitzer-winning novel about a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths collide in France during World War II.
Recommended by: Mary Kennedy, interlibrary loans and circulation, Whipple Free Library in New Boston. “I always enjoy historical fiction books in general and this book was captivating . You are reading the viewpoints of two main characters and then you see how their worlds collide. It took a little bit to get into but then I was hooked at one point. The descriptives and the author’s writing style have you imagining the characters and scenes easily.”
How to Read a Book, by Monica Wood
A novel about unlikely friendships and second chances.
Recommended by: Jo Flynn at Bookery. “Another restore-your-faith-in-humanity book.”
The Lincoln Highway, by Amor Towles
A story of two brothers in 1950s America.
Recommended by: Marcia de Steuben, circulation assistant at Whipple Free Library in New Boston. “It’s 1954 and Emmett Watson has just been dropped off at his home in Nebraska by the warden of the work farm where Emmett served a year for involuntary manslaughter. Out of the trunk of the warden’s car pop two friends from the work farm. So begins a 10-day adventure for the teenagers and Emmett’s 8-year-old brother Billy. On their journey they meet lots of interesting characters and have humorous and memorable experiences. This is an entertaining read.”
Table for Two, by Amor Towles
Six stories and a novella.
Recommended by: Ben Brown, director of Harvey-Mitchell Library in Epping. “He’s very popular, he only writes a book every four to five years…. He does… historical fiction.”
Recommended by Hippo Features writer Micheal Witthaus:
Beautiful & Terrible Things, by S.M. Stevens (July 18)
“This novel explores the personal and political lives of six city-dwelling twentysomethings, using romantic entanglements and professional challenges to explore issues like environmentalism, social justice, mental health and identity. It’s written by a New Hampshire author and the fictional group’s favorite gathering spot is inspired by Gibson’s Bookstore in Concord.”
Mayluna, by Kelley McNeil
“A great read for fans of Daisy Jones and the Six. Its story revolves around a fictional chart-topping rock group but is more focused on the emotional lives of its two main characters: the band’s lead singer and creative force, and the music journalist who becomes their lover and muse. For music industry geeks, Mayluna provides an informative look at its pre-Napster days; the author was once a tour manager.”
MYSTERY
How to Solve Your Own Murder, by Kristen Perrin
A cozy mystery in which a woman tries to prevent her foretold murder.
Recommended by: Jan Locke at Balin Books. “This is a lovely chick-lit cozy about the bonds of female friendship. Read it in a single bite!”
The Kamogawa Food Detectives, by Hisashi Kashiwai (translated by Jesse Kirkwood)
A bestseller in Japan with a sequel due in October.
Recommended by: Tracy Kittredge, customer services, Nashua Public Library. “It was the cover that made me pick up this book; I cannot resist cats or noodles. And then I discovered that it’s a cozy mystery, only the ‘detectives’ aren’t investigating crimes. Instead, they bring food memories to life by recreating a dish from their clients’ past. At 208 pages, it’s a delicious, lighthearted read, and the personal stories resonate.”
Lightning Strikes the Silence: A Lane Winslow Mystery, by Iona Whishaw
No. 11 in a series.
Recommended by: MainStreet BookEnds in Warner. “Wonderful writing and pure escapism. Lane Winslow is back as the former English WWII spy, needing to escape to the quiet of a pastoral little town in British Columbia. But murders happen, and her keen sensibilities are needed at every turn. Caution: you must read them in order, so get started.”
The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels, by Janice Hallett
Stylistically innovative mystery in which a true crime journalist who revives an old case.
Recommended by: Jaclyn at Nashua Public Library. “I really loved all the different ways we were fed information. Emails, texts, voice recordings that were transcribed made me feel like I was there with the main character putting all the pieces together. If you like a good mystery and want to help figure out what happened to the fictional cult of the Alperton Angels this is the book for you!”
The Frozen River, by Ariel Lawhon
Recommended by: Andy Richmond, director of Rye Public Library. “It’s a novelization of Martha Ballard’s diaries as a midwife in Maine” with the addition of a murder mystery.
Recommended by Corinne Robinson, Hippo production designer:
The City of Brass, by S. A. Chakraborty (the first in a trilogy). “It’s a fantastic read! It has absolutely fantastic worldbuilding and the author does a great job of gradually building political and emotional tension. Also the characters have such dynamic relationships with one another and each character you meet plays a significant role in the overall storyline. I love all three books!”
ROMANCE AND ROM-COM
Pride, Pancakes, and Paris, by Emmie J. Holland
Boy needs plus-one for a wedding, girl reluctantly agrees to pose as his girlfriend because trip to Paris!
Recommended by: Emily St. Louis at Bookery. “Trope of best friend’s brother and enemies to lovers, perfect beach read.”
Happy Medium, by Sarah Adler
A rom-com involving a fake spirit medium and an actual havoc-wreaking ghost.
Recommended by: Tammy McCracken at Balin Books. “A reluctant con-woman, a sexy farmer … and a ghost feeding the con-woman…. Plus, baby goats! It’s a fun romp.”
The Idea of You, by Robinne Lee
The book that spawned the Prime video starring Anne Hathaway.
Recommended by: Amy Hanmer at Manchester City Library. “You’re a 39-year-old mom dating the lead singer of a boy band, whom your daughter loves. Lee’s book is much better than the movie.”
HORROR
The Angel of Indian Lake, by Stephen Graham Jones
Book 3 in a trilogy of horror novels centered on generational trauma in Idaho.
Recommended by: Ben Brown, director of Harvey-Mitchell Library in Epping. “Really gory but it’s really good if you like Stephen King or something like that. It has a more unique flavor because of the Native American perspective.”
Horror Movie, by Paul Tremblay
A chilling twist on the “cursed film” genre.
Recommended by: Tammy McCracken at Balin Books. “The only remaining cast member of a never released 1993 horror film is approached 30 years later to be part of a big-budget Hollywood reboot. What are people willing to do to get this made?”
Recommended by Jennifer Gingras, Hippo production designer:
The Women of Weird Tales, stories by Everil Worrell, Eli Colter, Mary Elizabeth Counselman, and Graye La Spina, introduction by Melanie Anderson
“13 classic tales of fantasy and horror written by women who were influential in developing the modern genre. Including vampires, ghosts, curses, corpses and other horrors, the stories are fun, imaginative and — most importantly — weird!”
EDGE OF YOUR SEAT
The Exchange: After the Firm, by John Grisham
Another legal thriller from the prolific bestselling author.
Recommended by: Andy Richmond, director of Rye Public Library. “A follow-up on the big hit The Firm,” filled with international intrigue.
The Guest, by B.A. Paris
A psychological thriller about unpredictable friends and dangerous secrets.
Recommended by: Jess H., adult services librarian at Seabrook Library. “This book will keep you guessing right up until the last chapter. All of our patrons who read this book rate it as 4 out of 4 stars!” and “This is a book that you will not be able to put down. I read it in a day!”
SCIF-FI
Service Model, by Adrian Tchaikovsky
“A delightfully humorous tale of robotic murder,” says the publisher.
Recommended by: Sue Harmon, information and technology librarian at Manchester City Library “[Tchaikovsky’s] signature style is deep philosophical takes and meandering story-lines. … A refreshing take on AI-based stories.”
Children of Time, by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Humans battle on a terraformed planet. Winner of the Arthur C. Clarke Award.
Recommended by: Michael Joachim at Balin Books. “Epic sci-fi adventure spanning time and space. [Tchaikovsky] world-builds with great imagination and details. Big themes and great characters.”
FANTASY
Road to Ruin, by Hana Lee
Gritty fantasy with motorcycles, magic and monsters.
Recommended by: Lex Hetrick, library technician at Manchester City Library. “I felt like I was hanging onto the back of Jin’s magebike through this sandstorm ride! You can see the twists coming but that doesn’t make the road any less fun.”
The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England, by Brandon Sanderson
A fantasy adventure where a man wakes up in medieval England with no idea where he came from.
Recommended by: Jo Flynn at Bookery. “A fun, lighthearted immersive fantasy with lots of breaking the fourth wall.”
Recommended by John Fladd, Hippo features editor and food writer:
A Deadly Education: A Novel (The Scholomance, Book 1), by Naomi Novik
“This is a fantasy about a school of magic. Unlike the one you’re thinking of, it is deliciously dark, with an intricate plot. Imagine Hogwarts, if 60 percent of the students died before leaving. “
Ninth House, by Leigh Bardugo
A magical murder mystery set among secret societies at Yale University.
Recommended by: Natalie Lapointe, cataloging and technical Services, Whipple Free Library in New Boston. “This is a must-read, can’t-put down kind of book. If you love this, be sure to check out Hell Bent, the second installment of the Alex Stern series. Book 3 will be coming out within the next year (hopefully).”
Threads that Bind, by Kika Hatzopoulou
A descendant of the Greek Fates must solve a series of impossible murders.
Recommended by: Kirsten Rickershauser at Balin Books. “This one reminds me a lot of the paranormal fantasy I read in high school. Io is a private investigator and third sister of fate, able to see and cut the threads that bind people to their loves and lives. Here she is pushed in investigating how women with their life threads cut are murdering others instead of being dead themselves. With a lot of mirror mythology and world-building, this YA (Young Adult) book is fun for teens and adults alike.”
A Court of Thorns and Roses (the whole series), by Sara J. Maas
Wolves, beasts, immortal faeries — oh, and romance.
Recommended by: Emily St. Louis at Bookery. “A viral favorite, worth the hype for both fantasy and romance lovers.”
A Touch of Darkness (series), by Scarlett St. Clair
Persephone must create life in the Underworld or lose her freedom forever.
Recommended by: Emily St. Louis at Bookery. “(Surprisingly) a good spicy romance retelling of Hades x Persephone, as well as a modern aspect of Greek gods. It’s a restore-your- faith-in-humanity type of read.”
Child of a Hidden Sea (Hidden Sea Tales #1), by A.M. Dellamonica
A fantasy tale of adventure and adversity.
Recommended by: Sue Pellerin, adult services, Whipple Free Library in New Boston. “The book opens as biologist Sophie Hansa crashes into an unfamiliar ocean, suddenly and mysteriously transported there from present-day San Francisco. What follows is a novel full of adventure, political intrigue, magic, and family. The island-world of Stormwrack is fascinating — I loved learning about the various island nations and floating cities as the series progressed. And I adored all the characters, from the unfailingly curious Sophie to her genius brother Bram to the various inhabitants of Stormwrack we meet. The three books in this series are not enough for me — this is a world I could happily return to over and over again!”
Vassa in the Night, by Sarah Porter
A dark modern fairy tale.
Recommended by: Sue Pellerin, adult services, Whipple Free Library in New Boston. “A modern retelling of the Russian fairy tale ‘Vasilisa the Beautiful.’ Porter’s Brooklyn setting is at once familiar and fantastically alien, and her depiction of Baba Yaga (or Babs Yagg as she’s called here) as a sadistic convenience store owner is nothing short of inspired. Both hauntingly beautiful and deeply unsettling, this gorgeously written book had me hooked from the first page.”
A Broken Blade, by Melissa Blair
Fast-paced fantasy about power and resistance.
Recommended by: Jaclyn at Nashua Public Library. “If you want a fantasy book with a strong female lead character Keera is your girl. This book is mainly a fantasy but does have some romance. Book 3 just came out and Book 4 is set for next year and I can’t wait to see what the author does with the story!”
POETRY
Good Monster, by Diannely Antigua
A 2024 collection from the Poet Laureate of Portsmouth.
Recommended by: Ken Kozick, proprietor of Sheafe Street Books in Portsmouth. She “represents her role as Poet Laureate well.” Kosick said.
In the Hour of War: Poetry from Ukraine, edited by Carolyn Forché and Ilya Kaminsky
An anthology of current poetry of Ukraine.
Recommended by: Ken Kozick, proprietor of Sheafe Street Books in Portsmouth.
NONFICTION
Building: A Carpenter’s Notes on Life & the Art of Good Work, by Mark Ellison
Winner of the Inc. Non-Obvious Book Award.
Recommended by: MainStreet BookEnds. “This is a lovely meditation on finding the vocation that matters to you and learning its disciplines over time. It is now out in paperback, and makes a great read on finding and living a life that matters.”
Recommended by Hippo features writer Michael Witthaus:
Hot Dog Money: Inside the Biggest Scandal in the History of College Sports, by Guy Lawson
“Nonfiction that reads like a crime thriller, it begins with the fall from grace of a financial advisor to student athletes on their way to the big leagues. To stay out of prison, he cooperates with federal law enforcement to root out corruption in college basketball, with astonishing success. It turns out that the money involved with keeping amateurs playing for free is irresistible to many.”
The Demon of Unrest, by Erik Larson
592 pages on a slice of Civil War history.
Recommended by: Michael Joachim at Balin Books. “A riveting moment-by-moment account of the tense months between Abe Lincoln’s election and the attack on Fort Sumter by a renowned historian.” Also recommended by Ben Brown, Director of Harvey-Mitchell Library in Epping.
Crossings: How Road Ecology is Shaping the Future of Our Planet, by Ben Goldfarb
A Smithsonian Staff Favorite and a Science News Favorite of 2023, about the 40 million miles of roadway on Earth.
Recommended by: Prudence Wells at Balin Books. “Road ecology affects all of us: turtles, moose, butterflies, humans, etc. Habitat destruction, migration confusion and loss of life (man and beast) occur on account of roads. We can get to where we want to go without damaging our ecology. Here’s how….”
Recommended by John Fladd, Hippo features editor and food writer:
No Applause — Just Throw Money: The Book That Made Vaudeville Famous, by Trav S.D.
“I’ve always been fascinated by Vaudeville, the traveling variety shows of the late 1800s and early 1900s. I was hoping to learn more about some of the odd acts that toured the Vaudeville circuits, like Swain’s Rats and Cats, where cats dressed in racehorse livery would race around a track, mounted by rats dressed as jockeys. There was a little of that, but No Applause was more about the business model of Vaudeville, which I would have bet anything I wouldn’t care about. Instead, I was fascinated.”
The Flavor Bible: The Essential Guide to Culinary Creativity, Based on the Wisdom of America’s Most Imaginative Chefs, by Karen Page and Andrew Dornenburg
“This is the most useful book in my kitchen. And my office. And on my phone, so I can consult it while I’m shopping. It is nothing more or less than a comprehensive series of lists of which ingredients go well together. Creative typography lets the reader know if a pairing is a widely recognized one, or one passionate chef’s guilty pleasure. I use this book to develop new recipes for main dishes, desserts and cocktails. This could be a life-saver for those times when you find yourself shouting to your kitchen ceiling, ‘What am I going to do with all these kumquats!’”
The Boys: A Memoir of Hollywood and Family, by Ron and Clint Howard
Ron Howard and his brother, Clint, who were both child actors, recount their lives in alternating chapters.
Recommended by: Anne P., circulation assistant at Seabrook Library. “This is a memoir about growing up in Hollywood. It is very interesting and well-written.
The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness, by Jonathan Haidt
The latest offering from the social psychologist who wrote The Happiness Hypothesis.
Recommended by: MainStreet BookEnds. “An important book for our times as California’s governor calls for smartphones to be banned in schools and the U.S. Surgeon General urges a warning label on apps that their use can be addictive to children.”
Who’s Afraid of Gender, by Judith Butler
Recommended by: Liz Ryan, adult programming coordinator at Derry Public Library, who called the book “accessible” and said she’s impressed by how Butler puts discussions of gender in terms everyone can understand.
Recommended by Zachary Lewis, Hippo features writer:
Me Talk Pretty One Day and Santaland Diaries by David Sedaris “are the gold standards for humorous creative nonfiction. I recommend the audiobook for Me Talk Pretty One Day with Sedaris narrating.”
The Ancient Engineers by L. Sprague De Camp “goes through how civilizations from ancient Egypt, Babylon, etc. could have built their cities in a real, non alien-influenced way. He wrote a lot on debunking claims of the occult and pseudoscience despite also being a fantasy and sci-fi author.”
GRAPHIC NOVELS
Monstress, Volume 1: Awakening, by Marjorie M. Liu & Sana Takeda
“An original fantasy epic for mature readers,” according to the publisher at imagecomcis.com.
Recommended by: Sue Pellerin, adult services at Whipple Free Library in New Boston. “This is the first volume in an ongoing graphic novel series. It’s set in a matriarchal fantasy Asia, highly inspired by Art Deco and steampunk aesthetics. The world-building is lush and incredibly detailed, and Takeda’s artwork is a feast for the senses. The storytelling is complex, dark and fiercely feminist with political machinations, warring factions and banished old gods. Volume 9 comes out this fall, so there’s plenty of story to catch up on!”
My Favorite Thing is Monsters: Book Two, by Emil Ferris
The follow-up to the 2017 graphic novel My Favorite Thing is Monsters, full of mysteries and B-movie horror vibes and set in 1960s Chicago.
Recommended by: Liz Ryan, adult programming coordinator at Derry Public Library. “I’ve been waiting for this book for seven years, so I am extremely excited to finally continue the story. … it’s an amazing piece of art.”
Watership Down: The Graphic Novel, by Richard Adams, adapted and illustrated by James Sturm and Joe Sutphin
Beloved story of a group of rabbits on an epic journey in search of home.
Recommended by: MainStreet BookEnds. “[A] gorgeous interpretation, yet true to the original. After 50 years, something to engage and delight the younger readers.”
CHILDREN’S PICTURE BOOKS
Something About the Sky, by Rachel Carson, illustrated by Nikki McClure
What do you know about clouds?
Recommended by: MainStreet BookEnds.“What happens when you combine the beautiful writing of environmentalist Rachel Carson with the exquisite art of Nikki McClure and roll it into a picture book for children? You get this gem!”
Where is Little Stripe’s Daddy? by Deborah Bruss, illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright
Turns out zebras are not the only animals with black and white stripes.
Recommended by: MainStreet BookEnds. “Concord’s own Deborah Bruss has a new children’s book out and it is perfectly delightful. … Designed graphically so the child has a window to anticipate the next page’s surprise, there are so many things to see and learn throughout.”
Recommended by Zachary Lewis, Hippo features writer:
The Monk by Matthew Lewis “is a great traditional gothic horror, bodice-ripper, silly creepy spooky novel.”
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster, “got me to put down my Nintendo 64 controller when I was in third grade.”
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley “is wonderful, secretly funny, and absurd in all the right places.”
Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino “is truly a unique book. Anything by Calvino is what you want when you want magical realism.”
