The best books to read this summer
Seriously Good Reads by Mandy Myles
It’s hard not to pick up everything Mandy Myles of Bookety Book Books is putting down. Her eclectic, chic, always reliable online book store is a tiny corner of the internet filled with treasures.
And undoubtedly and most obviously, Mandy herself has an unrivalled taste in
literature. So, when we asked her to share her first reads for the warmer months ahead, she did not disappoint.
Over to you, Mandy
Girlfriends by Holly Bourne – Holly Bourne is exactly the kind of writer I want to ply into my daughter’s hands when she is old enough. Girl Friends is the perfect portrayal of long-standing childhood friendships and the complexities that these years of history can carry through into adulthood. Written in the easy manner of ‘chick lit’, this book covers many relevant and important topics, from mental health to substance abuse, and importantly unpacks the problematic sexual behavior of young boys through the past and present of two high school friend’s lives. I imagine many millennial females will feel this book has been written about their high school years.
Isaac and the Egg by Bobby Palmer – ‘Isaac stands alone on a bridge and screams. Something screams back.’ This book takes you on a wild journey through Isaac’s grief. It is a little bit fantastical, a little bit raw, full of imagination and with a lingering twist that you’re never quite sure where it is going to wind up. I suggest you have your tissues on hand and be ready to give this book one big hug when you’re done.
The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw – Don’t let the title fool you, this short story collection is spicy! Every story is ripe with plenty of scandal, sex and salacious details. If you have a dark sense of humour, and love to be privy to the intimate details of people’s lives, then this book is well worth the read. Bonus is that it can easily be polished off by the beach on a sunny afternoon, cider in hand.
Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors - is a fun trip to New York city where the drinks are free flowing, and everyone oozes cool. A young Cleo has just married, a not as young, Frank, six months into meeting at a New Year’s Eve party. This book delves into the stories of their romance, and the lives of their friends and family around them exploring race, gender, love, addiction and more. It also has the best fashion descriptions in any book I have read.
This Is Not a Pity Memoir by Abi Morgan - is a tragic story of resilience and long-lasting love. The true meaning of ‘till death do us part’. My heart was in my throat a few pages in as Abi Morgan, a British screen play writer, describes the unfolding days, weeks and years following her husband’s collapse that changes their lives forever. The writing is as beautiful as you would expect from a professional, and you will find it hard to believe this story is real.
Image : Seen Library
Words : Mandy of Bookey Books
