How are the longer, lighter days of summer winding down already? We’re not remotely ready to slow the reading flow just yet. Maybe Corona will help us keep our sizzling pace? (Come on, two posts a week constitutes some sizzle, doesn’t it?) Here’s a good, better, best post for those of you who are trying to read by the fading natural light.
Good
Coming from a family of pleasers, The Guest Book reminds me that sometimes saying “no” is not necessarily the best answer. The rich and powerful Milton family, hailing from New York, has secrets that neither propriety nor time can dismantle. When decades of family deceit surface on their island in Maine, descendants begin to question their lily-white legacy. This read offers up intrigue, some good ole fashioned elitism with a splash of racism. It underscores the idea that things aren’t always as they appear. So find yourself an island and pick up this 4-star beach read.
Better
Speaking of island reads, The Scent Keeper gave me all the beach feels. If forced to choose between the two, I’d definitely pick Bauermeister’s coming-of-age novel. I’m 100% with Macmillan Publishers about this Reese Book Club pick: “Lyrical and immersive. The Scent Keeper explores the provocative beauty of scent, the way it can reveal hidden truths, lead us to the person we seek, and even help us find our way back home.” You’re bound to love Emmaline’s fragrant search for her place in the world.
Best
The Vanishing Half earned the highest honors because this recent release has it all: plot twists, family dynamics, passing, racial identities, and (like Rachel) identical twins. One twin sister is trapped in an abusive marriage, only to run back to her rural Louisiana hometown. The other sister tries to escape racism by passing and marrying a prominent white man. Non-parallel paths reveal the stark difference between a black and white world. I’m not the only one singing Bennett’s praises—Kiley Reid, author of Such A Fun Age, had this to say: “Bennett’s tone and style recalls James Baldwin and Jaqueline Woodson, but it’s especially reminiscent of Toni Morrison’s 1970 debut novel, The Bluest Eye.”