It's time to step into the sun for Memorial Day weekend and ring in those lazy, hazy days of summer with a good book. From nail-biting whodunits to tales of self-discovery, here, our book list to ensure your sun soaking time fly by fast. (Or, even faster than it already was.)
The You-Will-Read-This-In-One-Day Mystery
Orient: A Novel by Christopher Bollen
In a beach retreat town for Manhattan-dwelling artists on the north fork of Long Island, one man examines the eerie murders of several locals after a dubious character comes into town. Thrilling and suspenseful with subtle shots of hijinks hilarity, this book will have you feeling like you can't possibly turn its pages fast enough.
Our Chick-Lit, 20-Something Touchstone
Oh! You Pretty Things by Shanna Mahin
With dreams to be the next big thing in Hollywood, Jess must come to grips with her reality as a Santa Monica nobody working as a personal assistant. When Jess's knack for cooking gets noticed by a budding actress, she latches onto what she thinks is her one-way ticket to stardom only to find out the grass isn't always greener on the other side. Industry insight abounds in a truthful yet entertaining read written by a former celebrity assistant.
The Suspenseful Thriller Everyone Is Talking About
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
This acclaimed thriller perched atop The New York Times' best-seller list tells the story of Rachel, who is drawn to a couple she sees every day passing through on her commuter train. But when she sees something out of the ordinary, her emotions take over and she gets involved with the authorities in seeking a resolution.
The Sexy-Psych Novella
Hausfrau: A Novel by Jill Alexander Essbaum
Anna, an American housewife (hausfrau in German), is frustrated with her distant Swiss banker husband. In search of clarity, she picks up several hobbies before engaging in sexual affairs with multiple men. When Anna knows it's time to end these flings, she finds it difficult to pull away and enters a spiral of lies from which it's impossible to get out.
The Female Empowerment Love Letter
Motorcycles I've Loved: A Memoir by Lily Brooks-Dalton
Feeling listless and without purpose, Brooks-Dalton purchases a motorcycle based on a friend's suggestion. Drawn to the bike's power, she discovers her own strengths and embarks on a journey to build her confidence. Grounded in female empowerment, this memoir brings the Lean In approach to the hog.
The Romantic Drama Art History Buffs Will Devour
Paris Red: A Novel by Maureen Gibbon
Nineteenth century Paris sets the stage for the fortuitous meeting of world-famous artist Edouard Manet and Victorine Meurent, who would become the muse for Manet's infamous Olympia. Swept up in the romanticism and mystique of cosmopolitan Paris, Victorine leaves home at seventeen and finds herself among the Left Bank intelligentsia. As Manet gains notoriety from Victorine's image, she ponders her own trajectory and what she really wants.
