Not everyone wants to read books that are being hyped up. This list is for those that are sick of hearing about the Twilight series and Dan Brown’s soon-to-be-released sequel to The DaVinci Code.
- Good in Bed, by Jennifer Weiner. This was the first book by the author of In Her Shoes, which was made into a Hollywood movie starring Cameron Diaz. Good in Bed is a much more enjoyable read than In Her Shoes. Plus-sized Cannie has a meltdown after reading about herself in her ex-boyfriend’s sex article. She proceeds to experience a year full of unexpected changes. Full of laugh-out-loud moments, tear-producing scenes, and a bit of romance, Good in Bed is the stuff that great beach books are made of.
- Some Danger Involved, by Will Thomas. For readers seeking more mystery and intrigue than romance, any book by Will Thomas will do. Some Danger Involved is the first in Thomas’ Barker and Llewelyn series, and it is a page-turner. The book follows a detective and his young assistant investigating a horrific murder in Victorian London. This is witty mystery writing at its best.
- The Trouble With Tulip, by Mindy Starns Clark. Combining mystery and romance, Clark introduces heroine Josephine Tulip, author of a "helpful household hints" column that she inherited from her grandmother, and neighborhood sleuth. She pairs up with her photographer friend Danny, to solve a local murder. In the meantime, Jo tries to figure out her life, in general. Lighthearted, with a touch of Christian morals thrown in for good measure, this book begs to be read in the sunshine.
- Luncheon of the Boating Party, by Susan Vreeland. For the historical fiction fan not looking for a mystery, this fictional biography of Auguste Renoir reads like an impressionist painting. The writing is beautifully detailed, and the story of how Renoir's masterpiece came to be is narrated not only by the artist himself, but also by seven of his models/friends/lovers. Best read on the shores of the Seine (or any body of water that happens to be nearby).
- The Virgin Suicides, by Jeffrey Euginides. At first glance, one may not think this a beach book. However, it is all about love, imagination, youth, and innocence (much of which is lost along the journey). At once funny and tragic, this story follows the five Lisbon teenage daughters' "year of the suicides," and the neighborhood boys forever impacted by the girls' short lives. While one could just rent the movie (better paired with a cold, rainy afternoon), Euginides' debut novel is worth reading on a warm summer's day.
Sometimes it's nice to read books that are off the beaten path, so to speak. There should be something on this list for everyone. Enjoy these titles and the warmer weather to come!
Clark, Mindy Starns. The Trouble with Tulip. OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2005. ISBN 0-7369-1485-4
Eugenides, Jeffrey. The Virgin Suicides. NY: Warner Books, 1993. ISBN 0-446-67025-1
Thomas, Will. Some Danger Involved. NY: Touchstone, 2004. ISBN 0-8432-5619-0
Vreeland, Susan. Luncheon of the Boating Party. NY: Penguin Group, 2007. ISBN 978-0-670-03854-1
Weiner, Jennifer. Good in Bed. NY: Pocket Books, 2001. ISBN 0-7434-1817-4
Nicole Schuchart - I am currently a full-time mom of two, part-time yoga instructor, and part-time writer. I’ve been married to my high school ...
