Beach Reads

 

What would summer be without a good book to read at the pool or beach? Annapolis Home writer Dylan Roche invited area bookstores to recommend some of their favorite books for your reading pleasure this summer. We hope you find one or more of these books a stimulating read.

 

 

Melody Wukitch, owner
Park Books & LitCoLab

 

 

Patricia Wants to Cuddle by Samantha Allen

Originally published in June 2022, Patricia Wants to Cuddle by Samantha Allen was just released in paperback, making it the perfect yet unexpected beach read. This unique, laugh-out-loud-funny, feminist satire will appeal to readers who love a witty voice and quick story about a group of reality show contestants. As they film the final scene on a remote island that is home to a temperamental local,  it gives new meaning to the “elimination round.”

 

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

This is a popular title for a good reason—it draws you into the lives of its characters and doesn’t let you go. Two young college students go to great lengths to design a video game that ends up turning them into overnight successes. However, it all comes at a great personal cost for both of them over the years that follow. Anyone who has ever had a messy friendship or relationship or who has given their all to a creative endeavor will relate to this one. And no, you don’t even have to be a gamer to appreciate! This is a smart beach read that will resonate and stick with you long after you finish it.

 

555 Baltimore-Annapolis Blvd., Severna Park
410.449.3100  |  parkbooksmd.com

 

 


 

 

Jinny Amundson, co-owner
Old Fox Books & Coffeehouse

 

 

The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese

A decade after writing The Cutting for Stone, Abraham Verghese releases his new novel, The Covenant of Water, and it’s perfect. Set in Southern India, this family saga spans 70+ years. Dr. Verghese is a skilled and gifted storyteller, and we’re here for whatever story he wants to weave.

 

The Brightest Star by Gail Tsukiyama

A historical fiction novel, The Brightest Star tells the story of Anna May Wong, who made her mark as the first Chinese-American Hollywood starlet. A favorite author at Old Fox Books, Tsukiyama shares Wong’s story creatively and artfully through glimpses and recollections from the actor’s life. Told against the backdrop of the glamor and dazzle of 1920s Hollywood, a poignant story of firsts and trailblazers unfolds.

 

35 Maryland Ave., Annapolis
410.626.2020  |  oldfoxbooks.com

 

 


 

 

Emilie Sommer, book buyer
East City Bookshop

 

 

In Memoriam by Alice Winn

I never knew I could love a war novel this much or find one so readable! Alice Winn’s astonishing debut novel is both rich historical fiction set during WWI and a wrenching, unforgettable love story. In both dimensions, it’s nothing short of a masterpiece. 

 

Maame by Jessica George

A British coming-of-age story for fans of Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams, Ghosts by Dolly Alderton, or Writers and Lovers by Lily King. Readers will be pulling for Maddie from the very first page as she struggles against family expectations and societal pressures in her quest to find her own place in the world. Funny, poignant, and wholly satisfying. 

 

645 Pennsylvania Ave., Suite 100, Washington, D.C.
202.290.1636  |  eastcitybookshop.com

 

 


 

 

Anton Bogomazov, chief book buyer
Politics and Prose Bookstore

 

 

A Most Agreeable Murder by Julia Seales

I thought it was going to be Jane Austen/Knives Out, so I was already on board. But then it turned out to be Jane Austen/Knives Out/Terry Pratchett, which was even better. It is so delightful and so funny! (The phrase “Litigation is my love language” absolutely killed me!) Wonderful mystery read.

 

The Art Thief by Michael Finkel

Absolutely incredible ride from start to finish. Finley did many interviews for this book, and the end result is the mind-blowingly meticulous account of a man who stole art for years before getting caught. As Stéphane Breitwieser did not fit a general profile of most art thieves, the way Finkel dug deep to puzzle out this art thief’s motivations gives this book another fascinating layer. This is a really great narrative about the love of art and the tragedy of possession.

 

5015 Connecticut Ave., Washington, D.C.
202.364.1919  |  politics-prose.com

 

 

© Annapolis Home Magazine
Vol. 14, No. 4 2023