Summer Bonanza V: 20 of the Hottest Summer Book Releases to Add to Your TBR!

Summary

Podcast Summary: Summer Bonanza V – 20 of the Hottest Summer Book Releases to Add to Your TBR!

Podcast Information:

• Title: Book Talk, etc.
• Hosts: Tina (@tbretc) and Hannah (@hanpickedbooks)
• Description: A book recommendation podcast that's bound to grow your TBR!
• Episode: Summer Bonanza V: 20 of the Hottest Summer Book Releases to Add to Your TBR!
• Release Date: May 27, 2025

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1. Welcome and Episode Overview

[00:24 – 01:28]

Tina and Hannah kick off the episode with casual banter, sharing a light-hearted anecdote about Tina's kids misunderstanding a playful family text. This sets a warm and relatable tone for the listeners.

• Tina: "My kids, they're loving lately. Currently is saying a pain in the donkey because my dad texts a pain in the ass..."
• Hannah: "I think that's great. I can't wait to know what it means. And it's appropriate for kids."

They introduce themselves and outline the purpose of the episode:

• Hannah: "Welcome to Book Talk Etc. A podcast bound to grow your tbr."
• Tina: "And I'm Hannah from Hand Picked Books."

2. Introduction to the Summer Bonanza Episode

[01:28 – 03:05]

The hosts express their excitement and nervousness about their fifth annual Summer Bonanza episode, discussing the challenge of selecting the best summer reads from a vast array of new releases.

• Hannah: "This is our fifth annual summer Bonanza list... I have a really good list."

They mention the abundance of book releases in June and the need to have backup choices:

• Hannah: "I did bring extras. I brought extras."
• Tina: "I have extras too."

3. The Fake Summer Reading Guide Incident

[03:05 – 12:52]

Hannah shares a recent experience involving a fraudulent summer reading list purportedly from the Chicago Sun-Times. This segment highlights the dangers of generative AI and misinformation.

• Hannah: "A friend of mine sent me on Instagram a photo of this. It's at a summer reading list... Most of these are not real."

She details the steps she took to verify the authenticity, including engaging her social media followers and eventually uncovering the truth that the guide was AI-generated by a third-party named Marco.

• Hannah: "The Times did investigate and found that they did not write it... It was part of their heat index guide."

Tina and Hannah express their frustration and emphasize the importance of thorough vetting processes in publishing:

• Tina: "Imagine not proofreading it and then not also having it go through a proofing team."
• Hannah: "It's bananas to me that it didn't go through a single set of eyes."

They discuss the broader implications of AI in content creation, stressing the necessity of human oversight to maintain quality and authenticity.

• Tina: "AI is a tool. It needs to be proofed by humans to ensure accuracy and relevance."

4. Transition to Book Recommendations

[12:52 – 32:30]

After addressing the fake reading list issue, Tina and Hannah segue into their main focus: the Summer Bonanza book recommendations. They outline the criteria they used to select their picks, emphasizing diversity, immersive storytelling, and a balance between thrillers, mysteries, and other genres.

• Hannah: "We have a lot of work that goes into creating reading guides."
• Tina: "That's why we need real people like us to do this work."

5. Summer Bonanza V: Top 20 Summer Book Releases

[32:30 – 75:15]

Structure: Tina and Hannah present their top 20 summer book picks, diving into detailed synopses and personal insights for each recommendation. They discuss both their official list and bonus community picks, ensuring a comprehensive guide for their listeners.

Notable Points:

• Diverse Selections: The list includes a mix of genres such as thrillers, horror, literary fiction, and non-fiction, catering to a wide range of reader preferences.
• Detailed Synopses: Each book is introduced with a synopsis, release date, publisher, and the hosts’ personal evaluations.
• Personal Anecdotes: The hosts often share their own connections to the books or authors, adding a personal touch to the recommendations.

Sample Book Discussions:

1. Slanting Toward the Sea by Lydia Hilljay

   • Hannah: "It's about Ivana, who divorced her love Vladho a decade ago... It spans 20 years of the characters' lives."
   • Tina: "Even though it has more of a melancholy vibe, it still feels like a summer book."

2. Lucky Day by Chuck Tingle

   • Tina: "His books are a mix of satire and horror with a satirical lens."
   • Notable Quote [35:05]: "The only thing more terrifying than a serious horror novel is an absolutely absurd one."

3. Park Avenue by Renee Adya

   • Hannah: "Tailor-made for me because it has a lot of things I love: rich people behaving badly, dark secrets."
   • Tina: "It sounds like a White Lotus episode... more intricate version of rich people behaving badly."

4. House of Beth by Kerry Cullen

   • Hannah: "It's a gothic mystery with speculative elements... compared to September House by Carissa Orlando."
   • Tina: "A great pick for your only horror novel on the list."

5. Black Hope by Rob Franklin

   • Tina: "A debut novel exploring race, class, glamour, and tragedy."
   • Hannah: "It sounds so good. I read the first chapter and it's gonna be fantastic."

6. We Are All Guilty Here by Karen Slaughter

   • Hannah: "This is the start of a new series set in a small town with missing teenage girls."
   • Tina: "It feels like a Tina book. Excited about the new series."

7. Run on Red by Noel W. Ily

   • Hannah: "A fast-paced thriller about a chase across rural roads with darker undertones."
   • Tina: "It’s a fun adrenaline-soaked page-turner."

8. Days of Light by Megan Hunter

   • Hannah: "A luminous historical novel about art, love, and self-discovery spanning six pivotal days."
   • Tina: "It’s more of a Hannah book with its literary focus."

9. A Marriage at Sea by Sophie Elmhurst

   • Hannah: "A true story of love, obsession, and survival after a shipwreck."
   • Tina: "A nonfiction pick that’s highly anticipated."

10. Crown by Ivanthia Bromley

    • Tina: "A literary suspense novel tackling eviction, motherhood, and class struggles."
    • Hannah: "It aligns with our recurring motherhood and pregnancy themes."

Bonus Community Picks:

• King of Ashes by S.A. Cox Crosby (June)
• The Compound by Ainsling Rao (July)
• The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno Garcia (August)

Community Engagement: Hannah and Tina mention their community read hosted on Discord, encouraging listeners to join for monthly book discussions.

• Hannah: "We have a Discord-based book club chat at the end of each month."

6. Closing Thoughts and Encouragement

[75:15 – End]

The hosts wrap up by sharing their current reads and teasing upcoming episodes. They encourage listeners to follow them on various platforms, leave reviews, and join their Patreon for exclusive content.

• Hannah: "Links to all the books mentioned can be found in the show notes."
• Tina: "Remember, everything's better with books."

They humorously acknowledge the heavy themes in their selection but reaffirm their commitment to providing diverse and engaging summer reads.

• Hannah: "We wanted to give them their due again. Next is it's not the End of the World by Jonathan Parks Fromage... sounds like a nerve-shredding, schadenfreude-type novel."

7. Notable Quotes

• Hannah [04:23]: "These were written by generative AI."
• Tina [08:35]: "It's bananas to me that it didn't go through a single set of eyes."
• Hannah [11:26]: "AI is a tool. It needs to be proofed by humans to ensure accuracy and relevance."
• Tina [35:05]: "The only thing more terrifying than a serious horror novel is an absolutely absurd one."

8. Key Takeaways

• Authenticity Matters: The incident with the fake summer reading list underscores the importance of authenticity and human oversight in content creation.
• Thoughtful Selection: Tina and Hannah emphasize the meticulous process behind their book recommendations, ensuring a diverse and engaging summer reading list.
• Community Engagement: They foster a sense of community through their Discord book club and Patreon, encouraging listeners to actively participate.
• Diverse Genres: The list includes a wide range of genres, catering to different reader preferences and ensuring something for everyone.

Conclusion

This episode of Book Talk, etc. not only provides a comprehensive guide to the top summer book releases but also delves into the critical discussion about the role of AI in publishing. Tina and Hannah's passionate approach to book recommendations, combined with their personal insights and engaging conversations, make this episode a must-listen for avid readers looking to expand their TBR for the summer.

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Connect with the Hosts:

• Email: you can email us at [e-mail]
• Instagram: @booktalketc and @handpickedbooks
• YouTube: Booktok etc

Support the Podcast: Join their Patreon for exclusive content and be part of their growing book-loving community: patreon.com/booktalketc

Final Reminder: If you enjoyed the episode, remember to follow, leave a review on Apple Podcasts, and share it on social media to help them reach more book enthusiasts!

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Note: The transcript ends with a humorous exchange about not identifying a book's author, emphasizing the hosts' camaraderie and light-hearted approach to podcasting.

Transcript

[Tina]

My kids, they're loving lately. Currently is saying a pain in the donkey because my dad texts a pain in the and then he'll do the emoji of a donkey instead of like pain in the ass. And so when my kids, who my daughter can now read text messages, which is great, but when she sees that from my dad, she'll be like, she'll be like, what's a pain in the donkey? Oh, I think that's great.

[Hannah]

I think that's great. I think it's lovely.

[Tina]

I can't wait to know what it means. And it's appropriate for kids.

[Hannah]

Perfect. At first I was like, oh, that's cute. And I was like, wait a minute. Yeah, spicy. Welcome to Book Talk Etc. A podcast bound to grow your tbr. I'm Tina from TBR Etc.

[Tina]

And I'm Hannah from Hand Picked Books.

[Hannah]

This is a conversational podcast about books and more from two Midwest Mood readers who are easily distracted by new releases and and today it is our Summer Bonanza episode.

[Tina]

If you enjoy listening, we'd love for you to follow us on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app. And if you have a quick minute, please consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or sharing us on social media. It truly helps us connect with other book lovers.

[Hannah]

Hey, Hannah.

[Tina]

Hey, Tina. Are you so excited for today's episode? We have a lot to talk about.

[Hannah]

I am nervous.

[Tina]

I am too.

[Hannah]

This is the fifth time I've done a summer Bonanza. We started it in 2021. I' oh my God. So this is our fifth annual, technically summer Bonanza list. And still I'm like, what? Have I picked the right books? Is this going to go well? Like, are these the ones? The bonanziest Bonanza books I could have chosen. And I think I have a really good list. I will say this year was easier than any other year. I could have added 30. And I know you're the same. So many. In fact, my barely escape June because June is such an insane reading month now. That makes me nervous. I did bring extras. I brought extras.

[Tina]

I do too. I have extras too. But yeah, I would say out of my 10, I mean, more than five are June titles.

[Hannah]

Yeah, I think mine too. I think mine too. So we're gonna have to fist fight. If there's like, you know what I mean, some that we like, really want to get to. We're gonna have to rock, paper, scissors for it or something.

[Tina]

But I like the idea of rock, paper, scissors better than fist fighting. Yeah, you would definitely win.

[Hannah]

I am Much bigger than you. You're scared.

[Tina]

Well, I've literally never, like. I think I've held a baseball before.

[Hannah]

Maybe once or twice.

[Tina]

Maybe once or twice.

[Hannah]

That's about it. Okay. All right, so we'll. I was gonna say arm wrestle. And I thought, well, that's not gonna go your way either. But anyway, maybe we won't have overlap. Who knows? So what we're doing today, if you're not familiar, Summer Bonanza. This is our version of a summer reading guide. And these are books we have not yet read. These are books that we are the most excited to read the summer, and these are all books that are being published in between June and August. Is that correct for you?

[Tina]

Yes.

[Hannah]

Perfect. So all summer releases and. Okay, I'm really excited. We have not. Are. Okay, I'm really excited. And so one of the reasons I'm actually nervous, though, is because we're doing something a little bit different to start the show. It's our Bonanza episode. Why not? And we have sort of this joint loving, lately slash conversation that we wanted to bring, but because I wanted to talk about what happened this week with the bogus summer reading guide. And if you follow me at all online, you've probably seen me talk about it because it's been a crazy couple of days. So where to begin, really? I'll quickly sort of recap the story. A friend of mine sent me on Instagram a photo of this. It's at a summer reading list. And she's like, hey, Tina, I know you love new releases. Look at these titles. Can you confirm if any of these are real? And I said, well, what do you mean? It's in the Chicago Sun Times. Surely these are real titles. And I looked at it and immediately was like, oh, oh, dear. Most of these are not real. And you and I, as any sort of savvy Internet person at this point, can probably say, oh, these were written by generative AI.

[Tina]

Yes, you can tell immediately, right?

[Hannah]

It just has that thing, right? It has that word salad that are words that are real but, like, don't actually make sense. And specifically for us as book podcasters, it's easy to say, okay, this is not what Taylor Jenkins Reid's new book is going to be called. This is not a real book. Andy Weir sure didn't write the book. The last algorithm that doesn't exist. And so I'm re. I'm looking at this thinking, am I crazy? Am I in the wrong here? Because what do you mean? So I went ahead and asked her if I could Post it on my Instagram story. She's like, yeah, of course. Like, you know, you have a bigger platform, so let's see if we can get a response. So I posted it and then went to bed. Nothing happened. Monday night, you know, I posted it to my Instagram, and of course, everyone that follows me over there was like, what is this? What? What's going on? And I had also posted it to Threads. I wake up the next day, and I was like, oh, right, I forgot about that. So I quickly threw together this TikTok because I was like, I want to get more eyes on this because this is so crazy. And we will link to what exactly we're talking about in our show notes, just so you can catch up. But then somebody on Blue sky shared it, and I guess Blue sky is the platform where a lot of authors hang out, because lo and behold, one thing led to another and I'm getting tagged all over. Luckily, I forgot I had Blue sky, but luckily I never turned off my notifications because I never thought to. All of a sudden, I'm headed to work and my phone's blowing up, and I'm like, oh, dear, what's happened? And so I look, and then somebody makes a very valid point and says, how do we know that this photo from allegedly the Times is legit? And I was like, oh, no, I'm not going to be called into question. Although I do understand, because we should be questioning things we see.

[Tina]

Sure.

[Hannah]

So I ran to the library, was like, let me get this copy of this newspaper. So then that is where I then posted the photo of me holding up this little newspaper with the summer reading guide. I had my Apple watch on, and I wanted to get the date and time in there because I was like, I don't want people to think that I made anything up. I'm just calling it out. Right? And so there's a re. We're going to make a point here soon. I just wanted to give you all listeners the context in case you haven't seen it. So once I posted that photo, it went off everywhere. You know, I saw all of my socials were kind of blowing up and authors were commenting. And then of course, immediately, as soon as the big authors like S.A. cosby and Chuck Wendig started getting into it, they the Times responded to Blue sky and was like, we're looking into this, right? And I'm like, okay.

[Tina]

So.

[Hannah]

So then midday, all of a sudden, I'm like, websites are now getting wind of it. NPR responded, was like, hey, Tina, can we Use your photo. I said, sure, obviously, please do. And so then There was like 20 articles written about this. I'm like, oh, this is a big deal.

[Tina]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

By the end of the day, the Times did investigate and found that they did not write it, you know, and I knew that it was an insert as a part of their heat index guide. And it was also published in the Philadelphia Inquirer, I believe is the name of the Philadelphia newspaper. So it wasn't just Chicago Sun Times. However, at the end of the day, it has your name on it. So you've got to be responsible. You've got to have. You got to take ownership. Right. And so they did hire a third party company to create it. This guy Marco was the one that used it. And he admitted, he's like, yeah, I used AI and I didn't proofread. And he was like, I often use it to help me, but I forgot to proofread. And my thing is this. Not only did you. It's not like one book, it's 15 books. You didn't Google a thing. And then who formatted it? And you are in marketing, you understand how things have to get organized and laid out. Like, who then? Okay, so say like, I just can't.

[Tina]

Imagine not proofreading it and then not also having it go through a proofing team. I mean, I've never worked anywhere where our work doesn't get proofed by.

[Hannah]

Right.

[Tina]

One, if not two other people. If it's getting, if it's getting sent to the press. I mean, again, like, I don't expect every place to have the same proofing system that we do. But it's like if I write it, I have a, I have a peer review it, and then it goes through our proofing team and then it goes to our media team. Like, that's for places that it gets proofed. And there have been cases where it's like, it only makes it through maybe one proofing team because it's a rushed thing.

[Hannah]

Yeah, yeah.

[Tina]

But it makes it through one. Like I'm going to proof it and then someone else is going to before it goes live on any website, on any publication. It's bananas to me that it didn't go through a single set of eyes.

[Hannah]

Not a single set of eyes. Certainly nobody who's a reader. Because immediately, if you are a reader and are familiar, these are popular authors.

[Tina]

I know.

[Hannah]

I thought that I read that he had created this like in March or something. So it wasn't even like he created it over the weekend. And to Be fair, It was a 60 page guide. But like, hello, you've got, like you said, somebody's got to proofread this.

[Tina]

Well, and I was pretty upset with his response as well because he mentioned that, you know, he thought about reaching out to booksellers and he thought about doing these, these things and then he didn't. And then when he was kind of wrapping up his apology, instead of saying, next time I'm going to reach out to people who actually do this hard work and credit them, he said, no, next time I'm just going to do a better job proofing the AI situation. I forget the words he used, but basically he was like, yeah, I thought about doing the right thing, but I did the wrong thing. And next time I'm still going to do the wrong thing. I'm just going to make sure that.

[Hannah]

I cover it up and I'm not going to get caught next time.

[Tina]

And I'm not going to get caught next time.

[Hannah]

Yeah. And that is. So that is the story. That is what happened. And all of this to say we thought it was very relevant to today's episode because we are putting together our own reading guide. And how many hours did we spend putting this together, Vetting the books, researching the books, looking at when they came out, making sure they're the ones that we wanted to include, making sure that it's a diverse, robust list that has a wide range of perspectives represented. There is a lot of work that goes into creating reading guides. Of course, we're not the only ones who do this. There are plenty of other creators online who have their own summer reading guides who do a much better job. And it's just crazy to think, gosh, what an opportunity wasted off on this individual.

[Tina]

Yeah, I'm so glad that you were able to expose that and talk about it. And I think it's such an important conversation too, because I think that people get a little too, either a little too excited about AI things or a little too wary about AI things. And really the truth is that it lies somewhere in the middle. But I think the, I think that the yuckiest area of it is when it takes from artists and creators and things like that. And, and this is a perfect case of that. And I think a good reminder to people who maybe get a little excited about the growth of AI that like, hey, listen, this is where we need to take a step back and figure out where this needs to be used. And it's not here.

[Hannah]

Right. And it's a tool. It's a tool. It's not created. It's not.

[Tina]

You gotta proofread it, babe.

[Hannah]

It can't think. It's just regurgitating nonsense. And sometimes the nonsense hits and does make sense, but sometimes it. A lot of the time it does not.

[Tina]

Then it can't create something. Like, I mean, it can. Obviously it can, but we saw how that went. Not well.

[Hannah]

And it's. Yeah, it's just pulling from things online and sort of. Again, it's not sentient. Right. It's not yet. Not yet anyway.

[Tina]

It can't go through all of the publishers websites and vet all of these titles to figure out too, like, what other people are going to be interested in or, you know, if you're a Tina reader, what are you. What. What are those readers really going to be into? Like, what are the thrillers that are going to be the buzziest of the summer? Or like, if you read more like Hannah, you know, what are going to be the. The books that. That those types of readers are most looking forward to this summer? It can't do any of that. And that's why we need real people like us to be able to do that work.

[Hannah]

I know, and it was so funny because I was like, you know, again, things were getting tagged and whatever on Blue sky. And I'm like, well, while we're here, just so you know, I do have a podcast and I do make book recommendations all the time and we've got our own summer reading guide coming out. And so that is what you are listening to today. But I wanted to share this story because it's like, wild. It was a very crazy thing and.

[Tina]

And kind of a cool moment in your public reading career, you know?

[Hannah]

No, for sure. Definitely a cool moment. And I'm just glad. I'm like, okay, maybe this is going to lead to larger conversations. And I hope at the end of day that. End of the day, that's what it does.

[Tina]

I agree. Yeah, I hope so too. And I think that it will. It already has.

[Hannah]

That is true. It already has. So creepy. So weird.

[Tina]

Is Blue sky worth checking out, by the way?

[Hannah]

You know, I think so, but I will say I. I don't know how to use it.

[Tina]

I have no idea either.

[Hannah]

So it really does look very similar to X or Twitter. I can't figure out how to find people. And like, like my. Put it this way, the for you page equivalent, I'm like, it's basically just show the people that I follow. Which, hey, by the way, that's great. But also, like, I don't know how to Follow anybody. So far, all I get is Chuck Wendig, Gabino Iglesias, and S.A. cosby's.

[Tina]

Okay. I mean, three great authors.

[Hannah]

Three great authors. But you know, and there's some other stuff that's like, put in here, of course. But I'm like, I want to see like, where are my book people? Or like, what's going on here? So anyway, but ultimately I would say go for it. You know, it's a new platform or it's not new, but I mean, it's maybe a new to you platform. And I'm certainly glad that I have an account because Lord knows.

[Tina]

Yeah, all that buzz was helpful for sure. Yeah. I'd be curious what the culture is like on there, because I feel like every platform has its own vibe, you know, like Threads, which is also very similar to X is Fun. But it's like, that's where all the drama happens. And yeah, so I don't always post on there. I go there when I want tea time. But you know, like, that's just. That's the place where I was like, yeah, Instagram is like community. And you know, like, there are different. They have different vibes for sure. So be curious what the culture's like on Blue Sky. Sounds like a lot of authors use it.

[Hannah]

Yeah, I think so. I think that's where a lot of the authors hang out. So I was like, all right, cool. But yeah, anyway, it's. It's been. It's been crazy. It actually. Shout out to Chuck Tingle.

[Tina]

Oh my gosh, I love this man.

[Hannah]

He apparently threw together a book that's called the Last Algorithm Pounded. Nevermind, I'm not actually gonna read it.

[Tina]

You can't say it online?

[Hannah]

No, I can't say it on the podcast. But he.

[Tina]

Well, you know that it has pounded in it.

[Hannah]

Uh, hu. Yeah. So he went ahead and. Oh, you saw it. I love Chuck. He went ahead and created a book inspired by the fake books that were made by this generative AI.

[Tina]

So wow, he can work fast.

[Hannah]

He can work fast. I know. I could barely even like open my phone and respond to a couple tweets. Like when you had said that he had apologized and that's what his apology said. I'm thinking. Did I even lay eyes on his apology? Because I don't remember, because I was so. I'm still so overwhelmed with all of the stuff I've been tagged in that I'm like, Anyway, I kind of stopped at a certain point because you got to step away.

[Tina]

I'll screenshot the. The little Apology for you. Would you send it to you?

[Hannah]

That'd be great.

[Tina]

I will.

[Hannah]

So that is our loving lately is standing up for truth and calling things out when you see them. And perhaps blue sky. I don't know. Perhaps a little combination. Right. I will share my latest read.

[Tina]

Yes, please.

[Hannah]

Unfortunately, it wasn't a slam dunk, and I will explain. My latest read is One in four by Lucinda Berry. And this is about a reality show about former childhood stars who are overcoming addiction. And then one of them gets murdered. And they are living in this sober house. And the main character is Dr. Laurel Harlow. And she is reluctantly on this reality show, but she has worked for years as a chemical dependency counselor and has this personal history with the show's director. And she's like, all right, you know, I feel like I'm a good choice for this. I know I could do good work. So she is working with these former child stars who are in a mansion, but the catch is they are on video 247 and they're going through their recovery. And of course, you know, it's a house full of narcissists, and they're all sort of vying for the spotlight. And everybody has a secret. And the main thing is one of the people, one of the contestants, dies, and the. The psychologist has to figure out, okay, who killed her? Was it on accident? Was it on purpose? What's going on? Even if it means risking everything she holds dear. Sounds great, right? Like, sounds buzzy. Sounds juicy. I love a reality TV tie in. And I always say I have yet to find a really good one that uses that jumping off point well. Unfortunately, this one did not use it well because the whole synopsis is about these childhood stars. And like the Sober Living and the reality TV show that's tied into it, you get that for, like, maybe three hours of the character's life in this book. It is. It is very much a different story than what is being shared in the synopsis. And that's okay. I am pretty torn with my feelings about this because on the one hand, I read it all in print, which is, you know, rare for me. You get that signature dark storytelling that if you've read Lucinda Berry before, you will recognize. I do appreciate that this went in unexpected directions and that she is not afraid to go there. She is definitely not afraid to go there. And I did read this very quickly, but I would just say it was darker and sadder than I even anticipated. I was sort of looking for this, and then there were none, you know, sort of locked room Mystery. And you definitely, definitely don't get that. I would recommend if you pick this up to check content warnings. This is, again, very dark, and you won't know from the synopsis the specific triggers that it's going to cover in this one. Lucinda Barry is a psychologist herself. That's how she was trained. And you definitely get that. There is excellent representation of therapy and treatment and addiction. And I really, really appreciated those parts, and I enjoyed that a lot. I wish I had more about the characters. A lot of the characters were just mentioned once or twice, and then they were gone from the page. I didn't even feel like we got enough from the main character. And they hint at her past, but you really never got to see the author sink her teeth in to help us understand who she is. I wish I liked this more than I did, and I don't think I can recommend it. I didn't hate it. I just don't think that I want someone to pick this up thinking Tina liked it, and then read it like, what the hell's wrong with you? Because I feel like this is a dark story that really didn't have a ton of redeeming qualities, which I hate to say. But I'm gonna be honest. I will 100% continue to read this author. In fact, it did inspire me to pick up more of her books because I'm like, I know this is not your best, and I want to read more. So far, I've only read this and Saving Noah, which was wild times. But I look forward to picking up this author again down the line, even if I didn't love this one. But this book was one in four by Lucinda Berry.

[Tina]

Yeah, I've only read the Perfect Child by her, and I had kind of mixed, complicated feelings about it. But it was very clear, like you mentioned, that she has a very deep knowledge about, you know, psychological trauma and, like, specific, specific things. You know, like even the government systems around those types of things. And so I do appreciate that about her, but I appreciate your honest review. I feel like Lucinda Berry is for, like, twisted thrillers, like Frida McFadden is for popcorn thrillers. Like, they're both very prolific, and they're so prolific, you're not gonna love all of them. But, like, if you want a really messed up, twisted thriller, Lucinda Berry is an author that I immediately think of anyway.

[Hannah]

I could see that. I can see that for sure. And people always comp the two authors, and I don't think it's a great comp because they're very they're both Mr.

[Tina]

Thriller.

[Hannah]

Lucinda's dark though. Yeah, yeah. Frida is darkish, but popcorn dark, you know.

[Tina]

Yeah. A little lighter and I feel like my latest read lies right in the middle and that is another thriller and that is Run on Red by Noel W. Ily. And when I had shared with you that I was reading this book, Tina, I know you had mentioned this was an author that you had been meaning to try for a while as well and same here. I hear from all thriller and even some horror people that I follow and creators that I follow that she is just a great like palate cleanser and I can totally see why. This story starts on a rural country road. There's no cell signal for miles and a terrifying game of cat and mouse begins. Within the first few pages of this very fast paced thriller, Laura and Olivia notice the headlights tailing them through the hills and it is already too late. What seems at first like a case of road rage quickly unfolds into a 300 page heart pounding chase in a battle for survival. Their situation grows more and more perilous and the two girls realize that real terror has only just begun. This was my power outage read this past weekend. It is the quintessential popcorn thriller with a little bit like a little bit darker. And it hooked me from page one. Is the writing good? No, it is not. The main character. The main character works at a restaurant called the Pie Hole. So I will, I will give you that like as indication of, you know, the, the type of writing and development we're getting here. So writing choices were not going places, but did I mind? No. For once in my life I had so much fun letting go and allowing myself to just read an adrenaline drenched page turner that kept me company during a weekend of eating Pringles and granola bars. And it was great. This book starts out with a bang and moves so quickly through this wild goose chase. There are definitely parts of the book that get pretty dark and gory and gross, especially in the latter half, but it's nothing too sinister and it doesn't stay there for long. The characters absolutely make decisions that are questionable. The main character, Olivia, is a true crime junkie and she bases a lot of her decisions based on things she knows about real life situations. And this added a little bit more depth to her character. But I don't even know if we needed that for a book like this where they are just running the whole time. It didn't bother me too much. I was still able to jump in and be like, yeah, sure. That's why you did that. And I do feel like the author was self aware with some of these choices because Olivia would be like, I made such a stupid decision to do this, but I can't go back and make a different one now. So here we go. And this just made me appreciate the story more because it was clear the author was just trying to create this fun journey for her readers and also let her readers know. Like, I know that this is wild and banana pants, but just bear with me. While it was fast paced, it started to feel a little redundant and frustrating once I got to page 200 or so, maybe a page 150. I think that this one would have worked better as a trimmed down short and sweet thriller. But I will definitely be turning to this author again when I want something intense and pulse pounding, but just really easy to get through. I've heard her book Ask for Andrea is a fan favorite, so I think I'm going to try that one next. And that is Run on Red by Noelle W. Ily.

[Hannah]

I'm glad you brought that. And I'm also glad you said that they're not well written because I, I knew I had tried this before a while ago and only got 5% in. And I'm like, I, I, I cannot. And then I tried her more recent one, Such Quiet Girls, and I had the same reaction and I'm like, maybe this person's not for me, but maybe she's not. I think that if you have the right attitude about it, you can like get into it, you know, Like I do like a. I love that term you use. Adrenaline soaked. Yes, that sounds fantastic. But just so fast, I think. And folks always ask for fast paced reads and I have a hard time with it because I don't always love them. Like, I need a little character development, you know what I mean? I need you to like, give me a little substance, give me a little in, you know, in depth background information and then we can get to the fast paced stuff.

[Tina]

Sure. Yeah. I almost wonder if this isn't. I'm like, is this my type of thriller? Just maybe, like, I don't know, I don't know, like just no character development. Just, you know, take me through a wild ride.

[Hannah]

Right. Just all plot, all plot and vibes.

[Tina]

Yeah. But I'm a character driven reader, so I don't know what that says about me. We're learning new things every day. Okay.

[Hannah]

Learning new things every day. We sure are. And let's go into book talk. I don't know what else to say.

[Tina]

Let'S go into book talk. Do you want to talk a little bit about how you put your list together and why you made some of the choices you did? I. I want to know kind of your thought process.

[Hannah]

Okay. I, of course, took this way too seriously, as I want to do, and I wanted to try something a little bit different. I remember last year, I think my goal was to sample all of the books, and I was like, this is it. This is going to get me to where I need to be. And I didn't include last year any books I didn't have access to this year. I said, that was last year. And it was lukewarm. It was a pretty good, successful bonanza list.

[Tina]

Okay.

[Hannah]

Not a hundred percent success. And some of them I didn't even read because I lost excitement for them this year. I was like, all right, what's my theme? What do I want my theme of summer reading to be? And I said, immersive, first and foremost. I want to be immersed. I want a page turner. And I want it to be memorable. Like, I don't want it to be because I love, don't get me wrong, I love me a easy thriller to, like, fly through. But sometimes those are forgettable. I'm like, all right, let me find something that's memorable. I'm not going too light with these picks because you know me at this point, listeners, that is not my vibe. So mine are going to be a little darker. I also allowed myself to add as many thriller, mystery, and suspense books as I wanted to. I love that because I love those books always. But especially in the summer. I had a ranking system. I ranked. I went through the list. I had a list of about 33 books. And I said, okay, how do I rank the synopsis? 0 through 5? And I gave it a score. Opening chapter, if I had a copy, I gave that a 0 through 5. And then I gave it a plus 1 if it was a debut and a plus 1 if it was a marginalized author. I really, again, took this quite seriously. My goal, my goal was to go and hopefully at the end of the summer, I can say we did this, but I wanted to find all four and five star books and new and familiar authors. So that was my plan and that's how I came up with this list. What about you?

[Tina]

So last year, I think I just picked ones that I was immediately buzzed and excited about. I also last year focused a lot more on authors I had read before and that I knew I wanted to read more of. So, you know, Like Ali Hazelwood was on my list last year. Claire Lombardo, Marjan Kamali, all Helen Phillips. They were almost all books that there were authors I loved. I knew I wanted to read their books that were coming out. It wasn't as much about the synopsis or does this book sound really compelling to me. And so while I didn't have quite as robust of a ranking system, I love how you like, ranked yours. So fun. I really just focused on going through all of the books across, you know, like Goodreads, Pre Pub Magazines, Netgalley. And I just read Synopses and I was like, what books sound good to me based on kind of what I want my summer reading to look like, which is. I didn't think of the word immersive, but what I was thinking is, you know, character driven, maybe slower paced, a little bit longer books, like allowing myself to kind of get excited about some longer books. So I would call that somewhat immersive. Yeah, I focus less on, well, this is an author that I know I like, so I'm going to throw them on there. In fact, there is a author who is coming out with an adult debut this year and I was so excited to see that they were coming out with a new book and I immediately put it on my summer bonanza list. But I was reading the synopsis and I was like, this is about government conspiracies and war. And you know, I don't want to read that. And I'm probably going to try it because it's an author I know I like. But am I going to put it on this list of books that I want to read from this summer and then I'll feel guilty if I don't or I don't like it. And so I really tried to avoid that. I really tried to vet books that based on the synopsis and maybe even my relationship with that publisher, like my track record with that publisher that I really thought I was going to, to like. So yeah, that was kind of my, my process.

[Hannah]

What book was it that you decided.

[Tina]

Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater?

[Hannah]

Oh, sure. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. No, I think that is a. I love the COVID of that. I don't have any background with that author. I've never read her before.

[Tina]

I love the Raven Cycle.

[Hannah]

The Raven Cycle? Yeah, that's the Raven boys series. Okay.

[Tina]

Yep.

[Hannah]

Good. Okay. No, and I, I sort of did the same thing mine that I, I actually had one that I nixed from it and I wrote Too Sad for Bon is.

[Tina]

Oh, okay.

[Hannah]

The. Or not. Yeah. That's what I wrote. And it's angel down by Daniel Kraus. And that is the one that just sounds banana pants. It is where these World war I think one soldiers run across a man who is wounded, but he's actually an angel. I was like, I think this sounds so innovative. And that author is the author of Whalefall, which was bonkers. And I loved it. But I'm like, I just don't know that this captures the summer reading, the.

[Tina]

Essence of my son.

[Hannah]

I want. Right? Yeah. Okay. Oh, okay. I'm excited. Do you want to start? Should we share the list? Okay.

[Tina]

Well, did we want to first mention. Oh, yes. The books that we were excited about? Okay.

[Hannah]

So before we get into the official list, because I am buzzing and I, I, my coffee has kicked in, so I'm like, I need to calm down a little bit. So the ones that we, you and I mutually agreed that we weren't going to add our community reads for booktok etc to our official summer bonanza list because these are reads for all of us. These are reads for everybody. So consider these your bonus recommendations. And if you are not already a patron, please join us to read these books this summer because these are bangers and I cannot wait. And our community read, we have a discord based book club chat at the end of each month. So for June, we are reading the one that's right here. That's perhaps my most anticipated book for the summer.

[Tina]

Oh, so excited.

[Hannah]

King of Ashes by SA Cox Crosby. Very, very excited about that. So we're reading that in June, July, we are reading a book that you brought to my attention called the Compound by Ainsling Rao. And I'm like, this book sounds so good. It's like rich people behaving badly. And I'm wrong. There's a reality TV tie in and I'm like, okay. Heck yeah. So that'll be for July, August, we're gonna like lightly lead ourselves maybe into more of a fall type mood with the Bewitching by Silvia Moreno Garcia. So that is our lineup for this summer that we're reading as a community. And I can't wait. So let's, let's do it.

[Tina]

Let's get into our summer bonanza.

[Hannah]

Summer bonanza.

[Tina]

Do you, do you. I think I went first last year.

[Hannah]

I think you did.

[Tina]

So I think it's your turn to go first.

[Hannah]

Okay, what's your number one? All right, so I'm going 10 to 1, right?

[Tina]

Oh, you're going 10 to 1. Good idea.

[Hannah]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. 10 to 1. And so now, just because it's lower rate, I'm like actually getting nervous.

[Tina]

This is so stupid.

[Hannah]

I'm still excited, still excited, still nervous. So some of these are ranked lower because I didn't have access to a copy. And so by my self imposed sort of ranking system, they didn't necessarily get a higher ranking because I couldn't rank their first chapter because I didn't have access to it. But anyway, I still wanted to bring these because I feel like they sound so very good. My first Summer bonanza pick for 2025 is slanting toward the Sea by Lydia Hilljay. Is this on your list?

[Tina]

It was on my bonus list.

[Hannah]

On your bonus list?

[Tina]

Oh, it's definitely on my radar. Let's hear about it.

[Hannah]

It's definitely on your radar. This sounds so dang good. It is about Ivana, who divorced the love of her life, Vladho, a decade ago. They met as students and this was back when Croatia was alive with hope and promise. But the challenges of living in a burgeoning country extinguish her dreams one after the other. And a devastating secret forced her to set this man that she loved free. Now he, her former love, is married and a proud father of two. And Ivana's life has not been going well. She is in her 30s, she has returned to her childhood home to care for her ailing father and is sort of desperately sad about her circumstances. She reconnects with Vlado and is welcomed into his family by his spirited new wife, Marina. But when a new man enters Ivana's life, the carefully cultivated dynamic between the three is disrupted, forcing a reckoning for all involved. Here's why. Okay, at first you're like, it might be sad and it could be sad, but one, I like this as a debut. Two, I like that it's set against the Croatian coastline and the COVID is giving summer. Three, I gotta know what's gonna happen between these two couples. These three people. Like, it sounds like it's gonna be perhaps a bit messy. And I do like that it takes place in a summer and it spans, you know, primarily takes place through a summer, but it does span 20 years of character's life. So, you know, it's going to be nice and character rich. This book is Slanting Toward the Sea by Lydia Hildjay.

[Tina]

Yeah, Even though it has kind of more of that melancholy vibe, it still feels like a summer book, doesn't it?

[Hannah]

Right. Yeah. A little more literary, perhaps than some of the other picks I brought, but I'm like, all right, Slow summer ready summer read Immersive. We'll see. But I did not get to vet that one, so, you know, stay tuned.

[Tina]

Okay, I did not get to vet any of mine. So we're really going rogue here. And I am bringing a totally different vibe for my first pick, my number 10. And that's lucky Day by our pal Chuck Tingle. And this comes out August 12th from Tor Nightfire. His books always just sound so fun. He. I mean, he writes literal satire, like spoofy stuff like the one that you mentioned for the Chicago Sun Times. And those are just his goofy books. But he also traditionally publishes horror that still has a satirical lens to it. This particular one is about Vera, who is a survivor of a global catastrophe known as the Law of Probability event. But she definitely is not thriving. She was once a passionate professor of statistics and she no longer finds meaning in anything at all. But when problematic a government agent, Lane knocks on her door, she is the only one who can help him uncover the connection between deadly spates of absurdity and an improbably lucky casino. I don't really know what's going on there, but something weird is happening. He needs Vera's help. What's happening in Vegas is not staying there. And the world is at risk of another disaster. When it comes to Chuck Tingle. The only thing more terrifying than a serious horror novel is an absolutely absurd one. And that is the pitch. It sounds so fun, exciting, the perfect horror novel for summer. And I'm excited to give this one a try. And that's Lucky Day by Chuck Tingle.

[Hannah]

Oh, I like it. We're starting off strong with a wide range titles. My number nine pick is Park Avenue by Renee Adya. This one comes out on June 3rd by flat iron and it's her adult debut. I actually have never read this author before. However, when I saw the synopsis, I thought this is tailor made for me because I have. It has a lot of things that I love. It is about Jia Song, who's always been destined for greatness. She is the daughter of Korean bodega owners and she has promised herself her whole life that she would have every fifth Avenue luxury. And when she grew up, it's all finally within reach. She has just made partner at her prestigious Manhattan law firm and she can. She's got friends. She feels like she's like got the thing she's wanted forever. She has a Birkin and then her boss asks her to sit in on the hush hush family implosion of a high level client. She's like, great thought you would never ask. It's going to help her with her career only to find out that the client is one of the most famous Korean families in the world. The Parks family net worth is estimated at a billion dollars, and they have a K. Beauty brand, has shaped the culture for the past several decades. But their patriarch is filing for divorce while the wife is dying and the three kids are fighting. And so anyway, she is brought into this to set things right and only has a month to do it. We're going to get drama. Backstabbing rich people behaving badly, dark secrets. There's a jet involved, she's traveling, and the main character is a lawyer, which I just love. And I am so excited to get into this. I also really liked the comps listed. They were crazy rich Asians, White Lotus and Schitt's Creek, which, I mean, if this could pull it off, I'm into it. That book is Park Avenue by Renee Adia.

[Tina]

Yeah, that. When you were talking about it, I was like, this totally sounds like a White Lotus episode. Kind of like a more intricate version of rich people behaving badly.

[Hannah]

Yes, that one was elevated almost, you know, like, not too silly and goofy, backstabby. It's more like, oh, there's really big. Big stakes. No, like, high stakes here.

[Tina]

Yes, very high stakes, which does happen when a lot of money is involved. You know, it gets a little bit lightened with a typical thriller, but it sounds like this one has high stakes. Like you said, that was also on my bonus list. And. Well, to your point, there's so many books coming out, and I mean, my, like, bonus list is like, 20 books long.

[Hannah]

Oh, good. Okay.

[Tina]

Narrow that down to five.

[Hannah]

Okay, good.

[Tina]

Yeah. So many good ones. Okay. My number nine is the Unseen by Anya Alborn. This one comes out on August 19th by Gallery Books. This is a horror author that I have tried before and enjoyed. I want to read more of her books, and this one in particular sounds really interesting to me. It's about Isla Hanson, a mother reeling from a devastating loss. And she is beside herself when a mysteriously orphaned child appears on the outskirts of the Hanson secluded Colorado property. Although strange and unexplainable, the child's presence breathes new life into Isla. But as the child settles in, Isla's husband, Luke, and their five children notice peculiarities that hint at something far beyond the ordinary. Anomalies that challenge the very fabric of reality itself. The tension within the Hansen household grows, and with it, the sense that there is something very, very wrong with this new kid in the House. I tend to enjoy a creepy kid, and I also love stories that explore grief, particularly in mothers. And I think that this one has the potential to be both very deep, but also just a fun horror novel with a creepy kid. And I'm excited about that one. And it's the Unseen by Anya Alborn.

[Hannah]

I love a creepy kid. I mean, not in real life, but.

[Tina]

No, in books. I just. I like it. It's one of those tropes where I'm gonna be interested right away, for sure.

[Hannah]

No, absolutely. So my number 8 pick is one that I actually have an arc for. It is We Are All Guilty Here by Karen Slaughter. This one comes out on August 12, and it's from William Morrow. I'm holding an uncorrected proof. It doesn't even have a real cover yet. There is a cover now, though, and I grabbed this because this is the start of a new series for Karen Slaughter. It's the North Falls series. And in North Falls, it says it's a small town where everyone knows everyone, or so they think. And I sampled the first chapter of this and was like, got it. I'm into it because you sort of get the kickoff right from the beginning. It's also set on the 4th of July, very summer setting, and there's fireworks going on in this town of North Falls. And two teenage girls vanish for Officer Emmy Clifton, who is her new main character that I think we're going to follow throughout this series. It's personal. She turned away when her best friend's daughter needed help, and now she must bring her home. But as Emmy combs through the puzzle the girls left behind, she realizes she never really knew them and nobody did. Of course, every teenage girl has secrets, but who would kill for them? And what else is the town hiding? Again? I read the first chapter, very juicy, and it's signature Slaughter. You get the right amount of character development, but also I'm gonna guess that we're gonna get some darkness here. So my number eight pick is We Are All Guilty Here by Karen Slaughter.

[Tina]

I wondered if that wouldn't be on your list. And I am also really excited about it, but it just felt like such a Tina book. And a Tina pick. Yes, and. But I am really excited that it's a new book in the series. I love Karen Slaughter, but I have felt intimidated by starting one of her other series that have such an immense backlist, especially because I'm not a series reader, so. And I just don't like the idea of starting in the middle of one.

[Hannah]

Of those Exact same way.

[Tina]

Yeah, I'm like, I can't do it. I'm excited about this. But I have some standalones by her that I still haven't read yet. Like Pretty Girls that I think I want to try first before trying this new series. Series. I know, I know. I've heard, I've heard. I loved the Good Daughter though.

[Hannah]

Both are very good.

[Tina]

So good. Okay. My number eight is Days of Light by Megan Hunter. This comes out June 10th from Grove Press. And this is a literary fiction novel. I read her debut a while back, which was a really short post apocalyptic novel and I loved it. I still think about that book. Book all the time. I was so excited when I found out she was coming out with a new book. And this one sounds really, really good. Definitely more of a Hannah book. And you'll see why in just a minute. This is a luminous historical novel about art and love and the moments that shape our life. On easter Sunday of 1938, 19 year old Ivy feels like her future is just beginning. Until one unforgettable evening changes everything. This book spans six pivotal days across six decades. Days of Light follows Ivy's journey through war and longing and self discovery as she searches for the meaning of choices that ripple through her life. This is said to be a tender, time spanning meditation on desire, memory and the beauty found in change. So if it's anything like her other book, it's going to be very character driven, very sparse. The plot is definitely not what you are going to be looking for. Which based on the synopsis, I can totally see that. But it has so many things that I love. Art. It's set during a very concise time period which I really like. It's a book about kind of the butterfly effect, how different choices shape our lives. Those are all things I really, really love. On top of an author that I know I've read before and enjoyed. And so I have high hopes for this one. And that is Days of Light by Megan Hunter.

[Hannah]

It's so funny because if you were to ask me three anti buzzwords, those might be on my list.

[Tina]

I know. I was like, this is a Hannah book and you'll see why.

[Hannah]

And you'll see why. Exactly. And I was kind of wondering, I'm like, I've never heard of this book before, so yeah, that's probably why. All right, good one. Now I will say some of mine were shelf editions at one point or another, but I think they are too. I was trying to be authentic to like what I really, really want to read. This summer. And so you may have heard some of these, but I wanted to like give them their due again. Next is it's not the End of the World by Jonathan Parks Fromage. This comes out on June 3rd. And here's the thing. I honestly was not going to include this because I was like, I've already talked about it. Then I reread the synopsis and I thought there could not be a more perfect summer book for me because it is sort of this post apocalyptic or middle early apocalyptic novel set in the near future. It's set in 2044. Life is bleak for many Americans. Stick with me. I don't know what's wrong with me and why I think this sounds good. But it's not bleak for Mason. They are safe in his Los Angeles mansion and he can remain blissfully unaware of the relentless wildfires engulfing California, the proliferation of violent right wing militias, there's the rampant authoritarianism destroying American society. But don't worry about that because this character, you guys, is so rich that he and his partner are throwing a 100 person $100,000 baby shower to celebrate the newborn that they have that's on the way. And then during this party, a potentially apocalyptic event hits LA on the day of their celebration. But like they're like, I'm, we're not going to be thwarted here. We're still going to have our party because surely this is not the end of the world, but is it? And they get thrown into chaos. This is going to be hopefully it says it's nerve shredding. Readers will be shocked, heartbroken, and inspired to question their most firmly held convictions. This I hope is really well done. I love this author's last book that I read of his. Yes, Daddy, Very Dark, Very good. Had a lot of good perspective. So I think he can do it. I also think it's going to be a bit of an eat the rich sort of schadenfreude type type novel, which I kind of like. So it also has a great cover. Not for Nothing, one of my favorites for the summer. Oh, great cover, great cover. This book is. It's not the End of the World by Jonathan Parks Ramage.

[Tina]

Oh. And it has an end of the world apocalyptic aspect to it as well. It sounds like. Hello?

[Hannah]

Yes. Love it, love it.

[Tina]

I can't wait for you to read that one because I'm already ready for you to talk about it again. Sounds so good.

[Hannah]

Soon.

[Tina]

Okay. I know my next book is one that I fear you might have on your list, but we will see the Girls who Grew Big by Layla Motley.

[Hannah]

No, but I do have that on my long list. Okay, a bonus pick. Yay.

[Tina]

This one comes out June 24th from Knopf. And I never know how to say. I hate saying that publisher name, but I always hear people pronounce the kids Knopf.

[Hannah]

Knopf.

[Tina]

Knopf. Knopf.

[Hannah]

Knopf. Knoff.

[Tina]

Okay, I'm not gonna say it anymore. This book is about Adela, who is 16 and pregnant, and she is sent away to her grandmother's home in a small Florida town where she meets a group of young moms. Each of these moms are facing motherhood on their own terms, and Adela is drawn into their world, and she finds friendship and heartbreak and strength among the girls. A makeshift family raising their kids from the back of a red truck. She is seen as lost by the town, but they are actually finding their way through love and mistakes and resilience. This is said to be a hope filled story about girlhood, motherhood, and the fierce bonds that form between. I love books again. About motherhood, about girlhood, about found family. And I feel like we haven't gotten a book quite like this since the Mothers by Brit Bennett. This sounds along kind of the same lines. In fact, I think that she actually blurbed this one, or maybe it's compared to that book in the. In the publisher's synopsis. And I could totally see why, just based on the synopsis of this book. So I think this is going to be a very emotional and rich story that I want to try to read very soon. And that is the Girls who Grew Big by Layla Motley.

[Hannah]

Yeah, no, this is a good one. And I'm thinking this is giving me the vibes. Your. Your favorite from last summer was the Claire Lombardo, right?

[Tina]

Yeah. Same as it ever was, by the way.

[Hannah]

Same as it ever was. Now that's family. Like sisters and things. This, though, is Found Family. And I feel like this has a chance to be really high up in your rank.

[Tina]

You know what I mean?

[Hannah]

Yeah.

[Tina]

Yep, you're right. Found Family is something that I really am drawn toward and just love reading stories about. So I think you're right.

[Hannah]

Oh, my gosh. Okay, now listen, here's the thing. This next one doesn't sound like it would be a summer read, but I assure you I read the first chapter and wanted to keep going. It is strangely funny. This next one is these heathens by Mia McKenzie. Is it on your list?

[Tina]

No, I've never heard of this one.

[Hannah]

Oh, my gosh.

[Tina]

I'm telling you, there are so many books that I'm sure we have books we've never even heard of on ours.

[Hannah]

So fun. This comes out on June 17th from Random House, and it says, dear Lord, please forgive me for the sins I've committed and for the one I'm still planning to commit tomorrow. Amen. And it takes place in Georgia in the 1960s, and a young girl is pregnant and is looking to get an abortion. She doesn't know where to go because the town midwife goes to the same church as her parents. And she feels her only answer is to head to Atlanta, where her favorite teacher, Mrs. Lucas, calls upon her brash, wealthy childhood best friend Sylvia for help. While waiting to hear from the doctor who has agreed to do the procedure, Doris spends the weekend scandalized by but drawn to the people who move in and out of Sylvia's circle. She's meeting political leaders like Coretta King Scott and Diane Nash, and she's meeting people that are atheists. Gasp. And even more shocking is that this teacher she loves from her small hometown seems right at home. And anyway, Doris. It's sort of this coming of age story about Doris finding herself surrounded by so many people and getting her horizons expanded. The tone of this book is so good. It is so good. Doris is one of the funnier characters I've read in a while. Not even without trying. Just immediately from the first couple pages, I'm like, oh, this is special. This is a special book. So even though it sounds like I don't know if the subject matter is going to be for me, I am so excited. This is a funny and poignant story about black women's obligations and ambitions, what we owe to ourselves, and the transformative power of leaving your bubble, even just for one chaotic weekend. And I can't wait to finish this. It is these heathens by Mia McKenzie.

[Tina]

I am so glad you put that on the radar. That one sounds really good. And another example of a cover that is just.

[Hannah]

Oh, it's good.

[Tina]

Chef's Kiss.

[Hannah]

Very good cover. Yes.

[Tina]

Really good cover. Okay. You'll notice a theme with mine as we get further up my list. This next one is called in the Family Way by Aisha Muharra.

[Hannah]

Lots of themes here of teen pregnancy, frankly.

[Tina]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's okay. You know, I was vibing. This one comes out on August 12th by Harper. This one is set in the 60s, it's 1965, and this is a novel about a group of suburban housewives who have to lean on each other as they navigate marriage and motherhood and the limits of their freedom in a pre roe America. Which is really what drew me to this one, particularly because some of the other ones are, you know, teen pregnancies and things like that. But this one I think is going to have a really interesting backdrop in terms of setting. We're following Lily, who is a doctor's wife and she takes in Betsy, who is a pregnant teen. So we do have a pregnant teen here from a home for unwed mothers. And this arrangement stirs some unexpected emotions and challenges. She also has friends that are facing their own crises. Her friend Becca is pursuing a secret abortion and Rose is uncovering her husband's deception. These women begin to question the roles that they have been given and the futures that they actually want. This is a story of friendship, quiet rebellion and the complicated path to self determination. I have a feeling this one is going to be emotional and heartwarming, but also in a bittersweet way. Again, I'm kind of excited about that setting because it's not a time period that I feel super knowledgeable about and that is in the Family Way by Aisha Muhar. And I don't know if I'm pronouncing that name correctly, but I did my.

[Hannah]

Best and it's all we can ask for. That sounds good too. I feel like we're bringing books that I'm not seeing in a lot of other places, which always like makes me a little bit excited. Now my top five are definitely buzzy, so you'll have heard of them before. Most likely not. I don't know about this one though, because this is number six. Wait, this is number five for me, right? Yeah.

[Tina]

Yep.

[Hannah]

Now number number five for me I think is one that could be on your list. It is House of Beth by Kerry Cullen.

[Tina]

No, it's not.

[Hannah]

Okay. This is horror. My only horror to make this list. And after this says. After a heart wrenching breakup and shocking incident at her job as an overworked assistant at a literary agency, Cassie retreats to her hometown in New Jersey. There she reconnects with her high school best friend Eli, who is now a widowed father of two. Their bond reignites and within a short few months, she is trading her bustling New York City life for homeschooling, nature walks and cooking lessons with her reserved neighbor Joan. But Cassie's fresh start is anything but peaceful. She still misses her ex girlfriend and she grapples with harm ocd. Her mind is haunted by graphic and gory images in their secluded house. Nestled in the woods, she's doing her best, but she's in the shadow of Beth Eli's late spouse, who was this perfect, committed homemaker and a traditional wife. And her presence looms large, permeating every corner of their home. And soon, Cassie starts hearing a voice narrating the house's secrets. And the mysterious presence grows stronger, guiding Cassie down a path to uncover the truth about Beth's untimely death. I think this sounds great. It's gothic mystery. There's speculative elements. And I saw this comped to September House by Carissa Orlando, which I loved. So I definitely want to read this. It's House of Beth by Carrie Cullen, and it comes out on July 15th by Simon and Schuster.

[Tina]

Great pick for your only horror novel on the list. I think that that sounds like it'll work really well for you. Okay. My number five is great. Black Hope by Rob Franklin. This one comes out on June 10th by Simon and Schuster. This was also originally on Tina's list.

[Hannah]

It sounds like, but it's my number one pick. But I'm gonna go ahead and defer, so I gotta make some last minute Aud here.

[Tina]

Both so excited about this one. This is a debut novel about a young black man caught between worlds of race, class, glamour and tragedy. A friend's mysterious death and his own arrest. We are following Smith, a young, queer, black Stanford grad whose arrest for cocaine possession in the Hamptons plunges him into the court system where his class offers protection but his race does not. He is still grieving the mysterious death of his glamorous best friend, Elle. And Smith escapes to his hometown in Atlanta, only to spiral further under the weight of his accomplished family's expectations. When another close friend, Carolyn, goes missing, he returns to New York to search for answers, slipping back into the world of nightlife, recovery rooms and danger. As Smith navigates police investigations and social circles in flux. This propulsive debut explores the cost of living between worlds and the fight to reclaim hope. This, to me sounds kind of like Black Buck meets Real Life by Brandon Taylor because you have this kind of like, you know, prestigious academic man and then also kind of has this elite living situation similar to black book. So I loved both of those books and this sounds. Sounds similar. So that is great. Black Hope by Rob Franklin.

[Hannah]

I am gagged that you brought this and scooped me on my number one, so let me rearrange. I think this sounds so good. I read the first chapter and it's gonna be fantastic. All right, next for me is called A Marriage at Sea by Sophie Elmhurst. And this one is nonfiction. And I got this on my radar, courtesy of Renee, because she was actually reading it were like, oh, what are you reading? And she was reading this one and said she wouldn't have believed it was nonfiction if it didn't say it on the COVID And I said, great, I want more of this. Because the subtitle for this is a true story of love, obsession and shipwreck. Okay, it's about Maurice and Marilyn, who are kind of this odd couple. He's a loner, awkward and obsessive. She's charismatic and ambitious. But they share a horror of wasting their lives. And as they dream of running away from it all, they're like, well, what if we actually do it? And so they did. Maurice begins to study nautical navigation. Marilyn made detailed lists of provisions they would need to bring. And in June 1972, they set sail. For nearly a year all went well until deep in the Pacific reaching whale knocked a hole in their boat and it sank beneath the waves. I'm sorry, what? And so what ensues is this jaw dropping fight to survival in the ocean with little hope of rescue. They are alone together for months in a tiny rubber raft, starving and exhausted. And they have to find ways not only to stay alive, but also to get along as their inner demons emerge and their marriage is put to the greatest of tests. Although they could run away from the world, they can't run away from themselves. This sounds fantastic and I love a nonfiction pick now and again, so I can't wait to get get my hands on this one. It comes out on July 8th by Riverhead, so I haven't read it, but I trust Renee's recommendations implicitly. This one is a marriage at A True Story of Love, Obsession and Shipwreck by Sophie Elmhurst.

[Tina]

Oh, I'm glad you brought a nonfiction pick. Yeah, My next one is A far better thing by H.G. perry. I've never read this author before, but I did hear really good things about the Unlikely escape of Uriah Heap, which came out a few years ago. That one got a decent amount of buzz. And this one sounds really interesting to me. This is a standalone portal fantasy. It's said to be Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell meets a Tale of Two Cities. And this is about Sydney Carton, who's my favorite character from A Tale of Two Cities. The fairies have stole him away as a child and made him a mortal servant of the fairy realm. Now he has a rare opportunity for revenge against against the FAE and Charles Darnay. The changeling left in his stead. It will take magic and cunning, cold iron and realm silver to hide his intentions from humans and fae and bring his plans to fruition. Shuttling between London and Paris during the Reign of Terror, generations of violence begetting violence lead him to a heartbreaking choice in the shadow of the Guillotine, which if you've read A Tale of Two Cities, you know it is heartbreaking indeed. A Tale of Two Cities, like I said, is one of my favorite classics and one of the first classics I ever absolutely fell in love with. It made me love reading as a child. Not a child. I was in middle school, early high school when I read it, so I guess still a child, but an older one. It is also a classic that made me consider history as a major in college. I got so sucked into learning about the French Revolution. I'm not sure I love Sydney's role being mixed in with fairy lore, but at the same time I love this idea and this one feels a little bit more of a risk for me, but one I am excited to take and that is a far better thing. By H.G. perry.

[Hannah]

Excellent. I have no knowledge of that book other than that it is this. But yeah, I mean I'm excited to hear about it. I like when they take sort of these classics and put a new issue spin on it.

[Tina]

Me too.

[Hannah]

All right, next up for me is one that I know you've heard of because I brought it as a shelf edition, but I can't wait. It's the Poppy Fields by Nikki Ehrlich and I had to bring it because I love the wizard of Oz. It's one of my all time favorite things point blank. And so this you'll hear and figure out why you know and how it ties in. This is speculative fiction and it asks the question, what if there were a cure for the brokenhearted? Welcome to the poppy fields, where there's hope even for the most battered hearts to heal. Here, in a remote stretch of the California desert lies an experimental and controversial treatment center that allows those suffering from the heartache of loss to sleep through their pain and to keep on sleeping. After patients awaken from this prolonged state of slumber, they will finally be healed, but only if they're willing to accept the potential shadowy side effects. If there's one thing I love, it is medical experimentation and fiction, because what do you mean? What are the side effects? And you've got. You're following in this story four very different strangers and one little dog, of course. And they all attempt to make their Way home from the Midwest all the way to the poppy fields where they hope to find Ellis. It's brilliant, enigmatic founder. And each of their past secrets and mysterious motivations threaten to derail their voyage. I cannot wait to read this again. It's about loss and grief, and I don't know that it's the most uplifting story, but I certainly don't care. It is a Tina story. This one is the Poppy Fields by Nikki Erlich. Comes out on June 17th by William Morrow.

[Tina]

That sounds excellent. And I definitely had this on my list, but I also knew that you were really excited about it, so I'm really glad that you ended up bringing this one. I love your connection. Connection and obsession with wizard of Oz. It's one of my favorite Tina facts.

[Hannah]

I love it. But it's funny because I'm not that obsessed with Wicked. I like Wicked, but I love the wizard of Oz. And you know. Anyway, I digress.

[Tina]

The wizard of Oz was the OG for you. And some of the spin offs aren't going to work for you, but that's okay.

[Hannah]

Exactly.

[Tina]

Okay, this one I'm not sure if you have on your list. This was one of the ones where I'm like, okay, this does kind of seem like a Tina and Hannah pick, but I'm going to bring it just in case. It's the river is Waiting by Wally Lamb. Okay, this one comes out June 10th from Simon and Schuster, their imprint, Mary Sue Rucci Books. This is about Corby Ledbetter's life. It is unraveling. He is a new father. He's experienced job loss and he has a secret addiction that has led to a devastating tragedy that shatters his entire family.

[Hannah]

Sorry. I'm so sorry. I'm sensing because our books, I'm like, oh, this one's about grief. And you're like, there's a devastating tragedy. And I'm like, yeah, this one there like our books. Is there a single light hearted experimentation? Experimentation. There is a possible end of the world apocalypse. We're not sure. Like uplifting. We're gonna call this like the. The Summer Reading Guide for ghouls because what on earth.

[Tina]

Oh, my gosh, I love that we're gonna do that.

[Hannah]

I love it.

[Tina]

Ghouls. Yes. I don't even have a single romance on this list.

[Hannah]

Okay, sorry, I did not mean to derail you. I'm just like laughing because I'm.

[Tina]

No, I love. I love the derail. Okay, so. So to hop back into Corby's life, he is shattering his family with his addiction. So we'll, we'll go there. He is sentenced to prison. Because of this, he endures brutal conditions, but also finds unexpected moments of grace and connection. At least we've got some grace and connection here. With his mother's unwavering faith and a flicker of hope for redemption, Corby begins to imagine a path toward healing. But forgiveness may be the hardest thing to earn, especially from those that he has hurt the most. So this one definitely sounds sad. I actually heard Kelly Hooker bring this one to Thoughts from a Page Podcast for their April's Real Time Reading episode. She does these with Cindy and she said this was really heavy but really good, which is exactly the type of book that I like to read, if we're being honest. So I am again excited for this one, as I am for all of these. And that is the River Is Waiting by Wally Lamb.

[Hannah]

Yeah, I did actually have this on my long, long list and I deleted it because I was like, I don't know how it got there, frankly. There must have been. And I didn't hear that episode. I've never read the author and I'm like. But for some reason I saw something and it, you know, it was a thing in my phone that I keep.

[Tina]

Sparked your interest.

[Hannah]

It sparked my interest. So, yes, I'm glad that you are bringing this one. All right, two left for each of us.

[Tina]

Yes. Oh my gosh.

[Hannah]

All right, number two. I'm gonna go with what Kind of Paradise By Janelle Brown. And this one comes out on June 3rd from Random House. And I have it next to me. Here's the COVID She is pretty. She is Beauty. She is Grace. It is about a teenage girl who breaks free from her father's world of isolation. And okay, basically this woman or girl had grown up in an isolated cabin in Montana in the mid-1990s. Jane knows only the world that she and her father live in. She knows their Wood Stone. They're kind of off the grid. They've got this vegetable garden. She doesn't really go to school. And their father, her father is really elusive about their paths, giving her little beyond the fact that they once lived in the Bay Area and that her mom died in a car accident and that's what led him to flee and basically start this thorough, like, utopia. Then, of course, as. As one does, she begins to grow up and Jane starts to push against the boundaries of her restricted world. She begs to accompany her father on his occasional trips away from the cabin. But then, long story short, she ends up fleeing to the only place where she knows she might be able to get answers to San Francisco. During this time. It is the age of the Internet. Boom. And so now the Internet exists. And this knowledge, it sounds like, is going to cause her to question everything she values. And what really solidified this? I know the author. I loved her book Pretty Things. Oh. Oh my God. I just noticed this. She actually sent it to me and she wrote me a little note here, which I am. It says, tina, I hope you enjoy this one. Xo Janelle. Which. Very cool.

[Tina]

Sweet.

[Hannah]

And then the first sentence of this. This is in the prologue. I am obsessed. It says, the knock I'd been waiting for finally happened early on a normal Monday morning, not long after my daughter left for school. School. It was almost a relief. Can you imagine, like this thing and you're like waiting because you know somebody's gonna call you out someday. Oh, I can't wait. So anyway, this is what Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown.

[Tina]

Yeah, that one sounds really good. And it actually does sound like a. A good. Like a perfect summer read, so.

[Hannah]

And these. Yeah, yeah. She tends to write more literary suspense novels, which is certainly in my wheelhouse house.

[Tina]

Agreed. Okay, number two, here we go. I've got so Far Gone by Jess Walter. This. This one comes out June 10th from Harper. And this one sounds really interesting. It sounds again, kind of like literary. But then there's an adventure element as well. It starts after a political blow up at Thanksgiving just months after the 2016 election. We're following Reese Kinnick and he punches his son in law at Thanksgiving, throws his phone out the window and retreats to an off grid cabin in the Pacific Northwest. Seven years later, his grandkids land on his doorstep, fleeing their father, now tied to a Christian nationalist militia, and the militia ends up kidnapping the kids. Rhys is then forced back into the world that he. He had decided he'd had enough of that he'd abandoned. And now he has to join forces with a motley crew of old friends and acquaintances on a chaotic rescue mission. This is said to be darkly funny and a story of redemption, resistance, and the unexpected ways that love shows up. This just sounds like. I don't know, it sounds like. It has deep themes, but also exciting and adventurous and. And I just am really intrigued by that synopsis. I immediately want to read and pick this one up, which is why I slotted it at number two. This is one that I could see myself picking up. Like tomorrow just sounds really fun to me. And that is so Far Gone by.

[Hannah]

Jess Walter oh, man, that does sound good. We are just so funny. And I'm so glad that we're both similar readers because, you know, you might look at this list and think, I don't know if it's giving summer, but it's certainly giving summer to us.

[Tina]

Well, at least you're going to be getting some different picks than you might see on a typical summer reading list. And that's exactly what we want to do.

[Hannah]

Exactly. So my number one pick, and I'm not like two and one. It can be transposed easily because they're both favorite authors that I've loved their books previously. They both write literary suspense. But my number one pick is the Ghostwriter by Julie Clark. This comes out on June 3rd by Sourcebooks, and it is about a ghostwriter. Well, obviously it's in the title. Title and the ghostwriter. Olivia has spent her entire professional life hiding the fact that she is the only child of legendary horror author Vincent Taylor. And Vincent Taylor is famous not only for his novels, but also for being the prime suspect in the brutal slaying of his siblings. Olivia never thought that she would be involved in her father's work, but she is now on the brink of financial ruin and reluctantly agrees to ghostwrite her father's last book, not realizing in doing so, she will be forced to reckon with the ghosts that live at the center of the family. But, like, of course you are. Are right. You're ghost writing his story. Of course you're going to have to, like, reckon with some stuff. But anyway, I digress. I am excited to read this one. I don't have a copy, so I'll be reading it right alongside everybody else. This is the Ghostwriter by Julie Clark.

[Tina]

I knew you were excited about this one, but I don't think I realized that you were this excited about this one.

[Hannah]

I just like the author very much. I think her books strike that right balance of, like, being well written and being suspenseful. So, yes, I'm pumped.

[Tina]

Oh, yay. Okay. I can't believe we're here. We're at number one. And I feel so nervous because my number one is definitely a rogue pick, but it sounded the most synopsis wise exciting to me. This is from an independent publisher, Grove Press, and it's a book that I have not seen anywhere. I just found it on a random literary publication website. It's called Crown by Ivanthia Bromley, and the synopsis just sounds really interesting and right up my alley. Also a debut, which I'm very excited about. It is pitched as a suspenseful lyrical novel tackling three days leading up to the eviction of a pregnant single mother and her nine year old twins from a trailer park in the American Southwest. We're keeping on the motherhood, pregnant, teenage theme. I'm gonna roll with it. I sometimes don't even notice these themes until I am talking about them on the show.

[Hannah]

Like, oh, there we go.

[Tina]

Oh, I have a. I have a pattern here. We're following Jude woods and she is on the brink of eviction. She is pregnant, jobless, and a mother to Evan in Virginia. She has three days to box up her family's life and find a safe place to live in a community in the woods that keeps to themselves. It is no secret that Jude and her twins are in jeopardy. The eviction notice is slapped on their front door like a shout. When Jude's contractions flare up just as their power is shut off, she rushes to the hospital, instructing Evan and Virginia to hide in a car in the surrounding fields. If the children are discovered outside alone, they are going to be taken from Jude. Jude labors through the night in a crowded emergency room while the twins, desperate in the heat of the cramped car, spurred by their wild imaginations, strike out along the dangerous riverbank in search for a new home for their growing family. That's it. It's going to be, I think, just kind of one of those literary novels where. Where a lot is happening. It's kind of fast paced, but it's also this literary story about womanhood and motherhood and class. And I am really, really excited about this one. I've heard from other early reviewers that it pretty much is exactly what I just said, fast paced for a literary novel and has a lot to say in a small amount of time. And that is Crown by evanthea Bromley.

[Hannah]

Good one. Yeah. Never would have guessed this one on your list, but I can see the theme. It makes sense.

[Tina]

Okay. I can't believe we're done.

[Hannah]

We're finished.

[Tina]

That's our summer reading.

[Hannah]

That is our summer reading list. So hopefully you're excited about some of these titles. I know we are. And now I'm annoyed because I'm like, I don't want to read the rest of the books that I have laid out for me for May. I know based on my tbr. I'm like, I don't want to read those. I want to read the ones I just talked about. Because that's.

[Tina]

Yeah, you want to get started on the summer reading list.

[Hannah]

But at any rate, you will hear us talk about those very soon. I am currently reading the Bitter Truth by Shanora Williams and it's one of the books I had put on my list. This is about a couple who have secrets, of course, as they all do. And the man in this couple is running for governor in North Carolina and he and his wife are fighting from the get go. And you also know that he did something pretty bad and it looks like somebody knows about it and is threatening to expose him. And that's all I know so far, but so far so good. It's a thriller and I'm reading it for one of our upcoming episodes in a couple of weeks here, but I'm enjoying it so far but can't really say much more than that. It is the Bitter Truth by Chenora Williams.

[Tina]

I am currently reading a book that I am very excited to talk about on the show and that is Rainbow Black by Maggie Thrash. This is a literary suspense novel set against the backdrop of the satanic panic. Panic. We are following the daughter of a couple who has accusations against them for these horrific acts of violence against children. And yeah, we're following their daughter through her reckoning with this family turmoil. There's a little bit of crime drama, courtroom drama that's happening in this one that I'm really enjoying as well. I am loving this. I cannot wait to talk about it on the show. And that is Rainbow Black by Maggie Thrash.

[Hannah]

Ooh, good one. I'd love a courtroom thriller. Not a thriller, but yes, a courtroom tie in.

[Tina]

Yes, a courtroom tie in for sure.

[Hannah]

All right, folks, well, that is it for today. We thank you for spending a part of your day with us. Links to all the books mentioned can be found in the show notes. And if you enjoyed today's episode, you can help us by following wherever you listen and by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps us get our show out to new listeners and grows our audience. And don't forget, if you'd like access to exclusive bonus content and community, you can join us for $5 a month on patreon.com booktalk Etc.

[Tina]

If you'd like to connect with us, you can email us@booktalk etcmail.com you can also connect with us both at booktalk etc. On Instagram and Booktok etc on YouTube. You can follow the Tina @tbr etc and Hannah@handpickedbooks. We'll talk to you next week. And in the meantime, remember, everything's better with books.

[Hannah]

It's a book that does not have the author listed.

[Tina]

Oh man, I was so excited. You almost said it.

[Hannah]

Okay? Slade, it. Okay, stop it.