Your Week-by-Week Guide to the Best Books of Summer 2016
by Jennifer Ridgway
Now that summer has arrived, it’s the perfect time to take stock of all the great new books worthy of a spot in your beach/diaper/tote bag. Whether you want to set a personal reading challenge — like giving debut authors a try, diving into books by award-winning writers, or reading one book per week — or just need a new bedtime read, there’s a perfect new book for you waiting to be found.
In the spirit of the season, I’ve culled the lists of upcoming grown-up releases to find the most exciting gems hitting the shelves this summer. Read on for a week-by-week guide to the books you can look forward to from June through August. (Iced coffee and lemonade not included.)
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June 7
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Grunt: The Curious Science of Humans at War
Bestselling author Roach is known for taking the science behind everyday life and making it interesting, relatable, and funny to non-scientists. In her highly informative new read, she tackles all things related to keeping soldiers alert and alive during war.
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June 14
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Sons and Daughters of Ease and Plenty
Available from:In this novel set in the 1970s, a wealthy family used to a comfortable life discovers they’ve run out of money and must now adjust to a new normal. You’ll be hooked watching Ausubel set the rags-to-riches paradigm on its head.
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June 21
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My Father and Atticus Finch: A Lawyer's Fight for Justice in 1930s Alabama
In a 1938 trial, Joe Beck’s (white) father defended a black man named Charles White who was accused of rape in Alabama. The similarities between these real-life proceedings and Atticus Finch’s defense of Tom Robinson in To Kill a Mockingbird inspired Beck’s memoir, which is both a deep look into State of Alabama vs. Charles White, Alias and an examination of race, class, and justice.
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June 28
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Invincible Summer
I love a good novel about friendship, especially when it follows pals over the years. Adams’s debut is about four college students who try to maintain their friendship after graduation, when the realities of life set in. A perfect summer read and an ode to the enduring power of friendship.
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July 5
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Underground Airlines
Underground Airlines asks readers to imagine a present day in which the Civil War never happened and slavery still exists. Victor, a bounty hunter, is hired to chase down a runaway slave; as he searches, he uncovers secrets about the government and, more shockingly, long-buried aspects of his own life begin to surface.
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July 12
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Pond
Available from:This book may be slim, but it packs a heavy punch. Pond follows the daily musings of a woman living in a secluded village — far from mundane, this debut will remind readers of what it means to be truly present and alive in the world.
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July 19
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Multiple Choice
Available from:Not to worry, I am not expecting you to read anything that puts you back in the seat of studying for the SATs. Formatted as a multiple choice test, Zambra’s unique work of fiction allows the reader to be a direct participant in this story that touches on universal themes like relationships, family, and death.
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July 26
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Dark Matter
Available from:Crouch, the author of the books that inspired the TV show “Wayward Pines,” delivers another twisty-turny, speculative sci-fi thriller — with a love story and some philosophical explorations to boot.
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August 2
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The Regulars
What if you could just take a pill and become gorgeous? What would you give? The Regulars explores these questions as three friends find out what beauty can offer them. A smart and fun read, it is also a cautionary tale about being careful what you wish for.
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August 9
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Another Brooklyn
From the author who brought us Brown Girl Dreaming, an award-winning middle grade juggernaut, comes the story of a woman looking back on her childhood in Brooklyn. An exploration of both the magical and dark times of the character’s formative years, this is Woodson’s first adult book in decades — one you surely won’t want to miss.
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August 16
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Liberty Street
Warren’s novel is filled with realistic and memorable characters who are humanly flawed. When a woman suddenly recalls a secret she’d buried long ago, she returns to her family’s home, the place where her life first fell apart.
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August 23
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Behold the Dreamers
Available from:The Jonga family has moved to Harlem from Cameroon in hopes of raising their son in a better place. Unfortunately, the year is 2007 and the country is on the eve of the financial collapse. Behold the Dreamers is a great debut novel about family, marriage, immigration, and the American Dream.
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August 30
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The Nix
Available from:At its heart, this is a story about a son, Samuel, trying to get to know his mother, who he hasn’t seen in years. When Samuel decides to write a biography of her, readers are swept from 1960s Chicago through New York City and Norway. Hill’s keen eye for people and satirical pen will keep you flipping the pages.
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What books are you looking forward to reading this summer? Let us know in the comments section below!