Summer is, sadly, almost over. With the last full month of summer still comes plenty {at least four!} of weekend getaways and beach trips {both local and beyond}, and a great way to pass the time while being seaside is to open a good book. Whether you’re looking for something suspenseful or something romantic, we’ve got you covered. Thanks to our writer + the woman behind Hoboken Booksta, we’ve got five books for you to crack open before the season is over. Read on for five binge-worthy books to read this August {all found locally}.
The Last Time I Saw You by Liv Constantine
Genre: Thriller/Suspense
From the dynamic sister duo that brought us The Last Mrs. Parrish, Liv Constantine successfully does it again with this refreshing, unpredictable thriller.
Dr. Kate English is successful, wealthy, and stunning. Not to mention, she has the perfect house, a handsome husband, and a darling daughter. Kate’s seemingly perfect world is turned upside down when her mother is viciously murdered in cold blood. The killer is nowhere to be found and no one can think of any reason why someone would want to hurt Lily. Tormented by grief, Kate finds herself reaching out to her estranged childhood best friend, Blaire. Without a moment’s hesitation, Blaire immediately comes to support Kate and her family during this tragic time.
Just when Kate doesn’t think life could get any worse, she receives an anonymous text from the killer. As a co-author of a successful murder mystery book series, Blaire begins to investigate the murder on her own. The more she digs, the more she unearths about the treacherous secrets plaguing high society Baltimore. Meanwhile, the killer continues to send Kate malicious texts, including threats that she will be next. Terrified and hopeless, Kate slowly loses her mind as mind-numbing paranoia sets in. What do you do when everyone is a suspect and no one can be trusted, not even your own husband? As she struggles to maintain her grip on reality, Kate uncovers the alarming truth behind her mother’s death.
Fast-paced and riveting from the very first page, The Last Time I Saw You is impossible to put down {and makes a perfect beach read}.
See More: 4 Must-Read Books to Pick Up This Summer {Found Locally}
It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover
Genre: Romance
Trigger Warning: Domestic Violence/Abusive Relationship: Lily Bloom is a graduate student from Maine working for one of the most prestigious marketing firms in Boston with hopes of one day starting her own business. Ryle Kincaid is a wealthy neurosurgeon finishing up his last year of residency. The two could not be more different, from totally opposite walks of life.
A curious twist of fate brings the two together on a rooftop in the middle of Boston. Despite being total strangers, the powerful chemistry between them is undeniable.
Soon enough, a whirlwind romance ensues, sweeping Lily off her feet. Ryle is a welcome distraction from the mess she left behind in Maine, including her troubled past. He’s literally the perfect man; intelligent, funny, considerate, charming, and beyond handsome. The only thing nagging at her is Ryle’s reluctance and total aversion to commitment. As if that wasn’t enough to deal with, Lily’s ex-boyfriend and first love unexpectedly resurfaces, reopening old wounds.
As Lily and Ryle’s relationship begins to evolve and progress, the darkness hiding within Ryle eventually comes to light. Before she realizes it, Lily is living the same nightmare as her own mother, the same life she always swore to herself she would be smart enough to avoid. Her strength and determination to break the cycle despite the overwhelming love she feels for Ryle is admirable and inspiring. It Ends With Us is a novel that every woman {and every man for that matter} should read. Domestic violence and abuse can impact anyone, anywhere. Lily and Ryle’s story brings much-needed attention to this topic that will hopefully encourage dialogue and support for victims.
The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary
Genre: Romance
A delightfully enchanting story about the unexpected romance between two roommates who have never met. Despite a rather unfortunate breakup, Tiffy still lives with her ex-boyfriend and the denial that their relationship is actually over. After strongly-worded encouragement from her best mates, Tiffy finally finds herself on the hunt for a new place to live. Enter Leon, a night nurse who really needs some extra cash to pay all the legal fees for the lawyer of his {wrongly}
incarcerated brother.
Due to her finances, or lack thereof, Tiffy is forced to choose between living in a moldy shoebox that may or may not be a step up from homelessness and sharing an apartment {and a bed, apparently} with a total stranger. Desperate times call for desperate measures and Tiffy answers Leon’s ad. According to the agreement, she would have the flat from 5:00PM to 9:00AM and weekends, while Leon would have it the rest of the day. It’s honestly the perfect living situation: roommates that never actually have to see each other.
Through scattered post-its, they communicate about various issues and concerns like the garbage/recycling schedule, the contents of the refrigerator, and the widely controversial domestic dispute of the toilet seat’s proper position. The witty banter between the two will keep you laughing as you subconsciously fall in love with both characters page by page. Beth O’Leary does a phenomenal job of keeping this rather unique plot realistic and relatable. The Flatshare is a fresh and exciting take on romantic comedy – hands-down a must-read.
Read More: 4 Binge-Worthy Books to Read at the Beach {Found Locally}
Stay Up With Hugo Best by Erin Somers
Genre: Coming of Age Fiction/Humor
At 29, June Bloom is somewhere left of where she thought she would be by now. Working as a writer’s assistant for a late-night comedy show, June wonders if she will ever achieve her dream of becoming a comedy writer.
When Stay Up With Hugo Best airs its final episode, June is officially unemployed. After the final staff party hosted by Hugo himself, June ventures out to a local bar where she faces the unfortunate reality of returning to the stage if she wants to make a name for herself as a stand-up comedian. Much to her surprise, she runs into Hugo Best: the man, the myth, the legend, in the bathroom hallway. In his sixties, Hugo is in the midst of his own life crisis as he comes to terms with his own mortality with the loss of his sole purpose and function in society as a beloved TV icon.
Some small talk leads to a shocking proposition: would June like to accompany Hugo to his Greenwich mansion for Memorial Day Weekend? With the promise of “no funny business,” June accepts as her curiosity gets the better of her.
Throughout the course of the weekend, she is confronted by the realization that there is more to Hugo than meets the eye. Through the developing relationship with her childhood role model, June is forced to explore and reevaluate her own desires and lingering schoolgirl crush. Through this humorous and insightful journey to adulthood, the reader can’t help but feel a melancholy poignancy that is nothing short of endearing.
Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
Genre: Historical Fiction
The Pulitzer-Prize winning story of a young African-American woman’s desperate escape from the horrific bondage of slavery in the antebellum South.
The Georgia cotton plantation is the only “home” Cora has ever known. This “home” is quite honestly hell on Earth. Even among her peers, she is considered a social pariah, isolating her even more than the average slave. The lack of support and acceptance from her own people prompts Cora to take advantage of the newcomer, a slave named Caesar’s friendship. When he tells her about the Underground Railroad, she can’t stop thinking about it. Deciding to risk it all, she agrees to accompany Caesar and flee the plantation.
Talk of their escape spreads across the South like wildfire, especially after Cora accidentally kills a white boy who tries to capture her. Before they know it, the most relentless and prolific slave catcher is hot on their trail. Each time the pair thinks they have reached safety, an unfortunate turn of events sends them back underground to the railroad and freedom slips through their fingers once again. A thrilling chase ensues that keeps the reader on the edge of his or her seat desperately praying Cora escapes unscathed.
Whitehead’s powerful and moving narrative brings you back in time to one of the darkest periods of American history.
Which of these books are you most excited to read this month? Let us know in the comments!
