Our Favorite Reads of Summer
07/28/22
As the Summer of 2022 moves into August, the Summit County Library staff took a moment to reflect on some of our favorite summer reads.
Here are some of our recommendations:
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
Recommended by:
Amy Marias – Main Library
This book takes you back in time to experience the heart wrenching trials of those who lived through the dust bowl area. Kristin Hannah weaves a beautiful web of characters that experience the unconditional love of family and the hardships and social discrimination that come along with being subject to poverty. A beautiful story that builds and keeps you guessing until the very end.
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Recommended by:
Genevieve Brusilow – South Branch Library
Noemi Taboada is worried about her cousin, the man she just married and even more, the family she married into. In this dark, moody and spooky adventure, Noemi must find the truth about a house that is haunted… or is it a person, or the town, or the family that is haunted? Find out in Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, a horror novel set in Mexico in the 1950s that will not disappoint.
The Maid by Nita Prose
Recommended by:
Sheila Brockmeier – Main Library
The story is told from the point of the view of the quirky main character, Molly, a hotel maid. Molly LOVES her work as a maid, bringing messy rooms into a state of perfection! However, Molly is not always aware of how best to interact with the humans in her life.
When a hotel guest is found dead in one of the rooms she cleans, Molly’s desire for order and predictability is turned upside down and she is eventually accused of murder. The story has some wonderful twists and turns and Molly is a character who inspires sympathy. The audio version of this book is especially enjoyable!
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
Recommended by:
Rebecca Kane – Main Library
Marcellus is a remarkably bright octopus who escapes from his confines at night. He crawls about, seeking opportunistic delicacies of other sea creatures in the Sowell Bay Aquarium, all the while Tova, the nightshift cleaner, turns a blind eye. Marcellus and Tova develop a bond of friendship and mutual understanding. Before Marcellus’ four year life span comes to a close, he is determined to help 72 year-old Tova understand the great mystery of hers.
The House in the Cerlean Sea by T.J. Klune
Recommended by:
Meg Quirk – South Branch Library
This book gave me all the fuzzy feels and I had a huge, goofy smile the entire time I was reading it. There is a beautiful and unusual romance between two men in their mid-forties, a band of mystical children who respect and encourage their differences, and it was a great reminder that sometimes it is okay to bend the rules and explore other sides of life. I highly suggest this to anyone (of any age) who is looking for a great feel good book.
Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
Recommended by:
Sarah Hulsey - Main Library
This book has been on my towering to-read nightstand for a long time, but I finally picked it up and am so glad I did. The unusual style takes some getting used to, but as you get to know the Todd family through Ursula Todd's many lives, you are sucked up into the characters and 1940's wartime. Haven't we all wondered if we made a different decision in our lives, what would happen?
Arsenic and Adobo and Homocide and Holo-Holo by Mia P. Manansala
Recommended by:
Christina Chambers - North Branch Library
This cozy mystery series is so easy to devour, and I really enjoyed listening to the first one on audiobook. Lila Macapagal manages to solve murders, deal with community drama, and create delicious sounding Filipino recipes. A woman who really can do it all! The third one comes out in October, so there’s plenty of time to catch up on the over-the-top adventure before then.
