It’s Reading Season!

I love reading, it’s something I’ve found refuge and comfort in since I was a kid growing up as an only-child (my siblings were all over a decade older than me and had all moved out by the time I was in elementary school). Reading then turned into a love of writing and storytelling and, well, here we are today!

As 2018 approached, I made a commitment to read more this year, at least one book per month which doesn’t seem like much but when you’re a busy mom of three somehow life gets in the way and you end up putting the things you love aside. To help in that commitment I joined a local book club and have been perusing my friend’s social media pages looking for new reads as well.

Here are 5 picks I’d recommend for summer reading (and if you have any books that I absolutely must add to my list, let me know!)

Atomic City Girls – Janet Beard

This was our May Book Club pick, and on a full day of flights just a few weeks ago, I brought it along to start and got so engrossed in the story that I ended up finishing it when I arrived at my hotel room late that night. I couldn’t put it down and wanted to read what happened next. It’s similar to Hidden Figures in that the novel looks at the everyday people who worked on the Manhattan Project during World War II.

“What you see here, what you hear here, what you do here, let it stay here.”

The Woman In The Window – A.J. Finn

Written in the female-mysterious-twist genre that has exploded in recent years (think: Gone Girl, The Girl On The Train, etc.) this book takes you inside the mind of Anna Fox, a recluse in NYC who sees too much through her neighbours windows, and lives with her own memories to torment her as well. It’s a sad read in some ways, but you learn to love complicated, flawed and likeable Anna.

The Lying Game – Ruth Ware

I couldn’t have said it any better myself: “An addictive mystery that reminds us how lies can come back to haunt us, even when we think they’re long buried. An absorbing summer read perfect for a stormy night out at the lake, The Lying Game  will capture your attention and hold it until the very end.”(Winnipeg Free Press)

This book only took me 2 days to read, and again it was because it was just so interesting (and, yes, I had another full day of travel in there as well.)

Secret Daughter – Shilpi Somaya Gowda

I read this book many summers ago, and it still stays with me. It tells the story of two women on opposite sides of the world, sharing an adopted child. The author, Shilpi Somaya Gowda does a beautiful job of making her readers relate to the women even if we ourselves think we can’t possibly have anything in common with them. Kavita, the birth mother who lives in India, warmed my heart and I truly felt her sorrow and longing throughout the book. Somer, the adoptive mother who lives in California, is someone I could relate to because of a shared experience of the pain of infertility and miscarriage.

The Couple Next Door – Shari Lapena

Anne and Marco Conti seem to have it all—a loving relationship, a wonderful home and their beautiful baby, Cora. But one night when they are at a dinner party next door, a terrible crime is committed. Suspicion immediately focuses on the parents. But the truth is a much more complicated story. Another twisty tale for summer reading that will leave you wondering until the end – I liked it!

To encourage you, too, to relax and read more this spring and summer I am hosting an Amazon.ca Gift Card giveaway right here on the blog! You should have no problem getting some or all of my picks this summer with this prize! To enter, just fill in your name and email address in the form below and click BEGIN! Then leave a comment on this blog post telling me which of the books above interests you post – or if you’ve already read one and loved it too – share that as your comment! Don’t forget about bonus entries – good luck everyone!