“What Happens in Paradise” is a book about a woman who is grieving the unexpected loss of her husband who died in a helicopter crash. The woman is also grappling with the news that her husband was leading a double life in the Caribbean with a mistress and a 13-year-old daughter. In this second installment of the series, the woman and her two adult sons are back on the island of St. John to uncover the truth about the death and double life of their husband and father. In the process, they learn truths about themselves and what they want for their futures. This book is a true page turner, and I could not wait to read what new information would be revealed or what would happen next. This book was also very clean — no uncomfortable intimate moments.

Three words that describe this book: Page-turner, Dramatic, Tropical

You might want to pick this book up if: You want to escape to the island of St. John for family drama and secrets, romance, and overall fun in the sun.

-Anonymous

Most people know the basics of the story of the Trojan War, but “A Thousand Ships” tells the stories of the women who were affected by the war, including those mostly ignored by history. Through their voices and tales, the reader has a better understanding of the time period and what women went through. I love mythological stories, so this was right up my alley.

Three words that describe this book: mythological, feminist, historical

You might want to pick this book up if: You like authors Madeline Miller and Mary Renault, or the book “The Silence of the Girls” by Pat Barker.

-Ashley

This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. Submit your own book review here for a chance to have it featured on the Adults Blog. 

“The Light Through the Leaves” is about a mother finding a way to move through grief and heartbreak, and a daughter learning to build relationships after years of isolation. Both struggle to navigate relationships and mental stability. All of the characters in this book were so relatable, dynamic and unique. I’m typically a slow reader, but I was so engrossed in this story that I finished it in just a few days. I enjoyed it because the characters worked long and hard for their heartwarming ending. The story, characters, relationships, everything was so well thought out by the author. Nothing seemed too convenient, the story was believable and intriguing. It was everything I love in a book.

Three words that describe this book: Heartwarming, relatable, inspiring

You might want to pick this book up if: You appreciate a hard-earned, happy ending.

-Anonymous

This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. Submit your own book review here for a chance to have it featured on the Adults Blog. 

Editor’s note: This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. We will be sharing more throughout the year.

“The Enchanted Sonata” is a retelling of the story “The Nutcracker” with a musical twist. Music has magic, and in one world, music turned all the soldiers and the prince into nutcrackers and the children into toys. Clara, an accomplished pianist, is whisked into this world and discovers she has this magic within her as well and, after many adventures, is able to reverse the spell and turn everyone back into humans. As a pianist and an avid fan of fairy tales, I really enjoyed how the two were intertwined. Additionally, the language used within this book was vivid and absolutely gorgeous. I adore how this author takes words appropriate to the theme of the story—such as music in this case—and so matter-of-factly incorporates them into the narrative. It adds both a charm and a wholeness to the book.

Three words that describe this book: Gorgeous, delightful, lyrical

You might want to pick this book up if: You love music, fairy tales, and beautiful literary imagery.

-Anonymous

Editor’s note: This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. We will be sharing more throughout the year.

“Heartstopper” is about the unlikely new friendship between Charlie Spring, Year 10, and Nick Nelson, Year 11, at Truham Grammar School for Boys. The reader tags along as Charlie and Nick get to know each other and become close, potentially leading to something … more? I loved this book in part because of the format. I’m a sucker for graphic novels and the story really popped because of this medium choice. I also loved how light-hearted it was and how realistic the interactions between the two main characters were.

Three words that describe this book: Light-hearted, pure, adorable

You might want to pick this book up if: You like queer romances, graphic novels, friends to significant-others stories

-Amanda

Editor’s note: This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. We will be sharing more throughout the year.

The book “Endurance” details Ernest Shackleton’s doomed attempt to be the first to make a trans-Antarctic voyage. The story is true and absolutely amazing, and Shackleton’s leadership is inspiring. This is, unfortunately, the only book Lansing wrote, but his writing is excellent. He really captures the misery and suffering the men with Shackleton must have experienced, as well as many details about how they survived in impossible circumstances, and uses the men’s diaries to build understanding of their characters. It’s a well-written, and amazing adventure book. Some photos are included too.

Three words that describe this book: Thrilling, intense, inspiring

You might want to pick this book up if: You like history, true stories, explorers, the Antarctic.

-Ruth

Editor’s note: This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. We will be sharing more throughout the year.

I don’t remember how “Harry’s Trees” got on my radar or on my to-read list, or even how it ended up being the next one I read. But oh my, what an enchanting book. How can you not fall in love with a book about trees?

I wasn’t sure at the start — there were some men who turned my stomach in this book and I wasn’t sure I’d be able to continue. But Harry, Oriana, and Amanda won my heart with this story of trying to heal what seems beyond healing. And really, the parallels between fairy tale and real life are just beautiful. Everything is tied together so seamlessly. Truly, a lovely book.

Three words that describe this book: enchanting, heartwarming, affirming

You might want to pick this book up if: you love fairy tales.

-Katheen

Editor’s note: This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. We will be sharing more throughout the rest of the year.

“Less” follows a man named Arthur Less, a divorcee and moderately successful author about to turn 50. To avoid attending the wedding of the man he loves to someone else, Arthur picks up every possible travel opportunity to have an adequate excuse not to attend the wedding. This takes him to Italy, Germany, France, Morocco, India and Japan. Several embarrassments, misadventures, and life lessons ensue. I really enjoyed this book. It made me laugh out loud several times, and the ever-changing scenery keeps it interesting.

Three words that describe this book: Fun, heartfelt, humorous

You might want to pick this book up if: You are looking for a light, fun summer read that still has substance.

-Anonymous

“The Riot Within” is the memoir of Rodney King — the black man from Los Angeles whose mistreatment at the hands of the LA Police was the catalyst for riots in the summer of 1992. I sought this book out because I was barely six months old when the riots occurred, and while I had heard people speak of him and the riots, I knew little about the man himself. The reading level of this book is not advanced, but that is not to say that this book was an easy read.

One of the best parts of this memoir, to me, is that the book is about so much more than just his beating at the hands of the police and the riots that came after the acquittal — it was about him, the admittedly flawed human, who had done things wrong, who loved to fish with his family, who dealt with substance use disorder, who was mistreated at the hands of lawyers and who struggled to see who he was in the greater scheme of the Civil Rights movement.

One of the things that has stayed with me is that Rodney King talked about how difficult it was for him to be shrunk down to nothing more than an adjective — “The Rodney King Riots.” Never again will I minimize this man to those four words.

Three words that describe this book: Moving. Important. Strong.

You might want to pick this book up if: You want to step outside of your own community and learn more about the lives of others. Or perhaps you just want to learn more about the man whose mistreatment was the catalyst for the 1992 LA Riots.

-Anonymous