Poolside Reading Season is Around the Corner!

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Lately when I'm in the car, listening to tunes and feeling the sun on my face, I've been fantasizing about how close we are to poolside reading season!  Bring on the rum drinks, the coconut-scented sunscreen, and the five star reads!  I'm already there....mentally, anyway.

Here's what I've been reading lately:

The Portrait of a Mirror by A Nathasha Joukovsky
If you're the type who loves books about marriage and career drama of the ultra-rich high society types, and it's okay that most all of the characters are insufferable, you'll love this.  Well written, tons of sexual tension, and an added bonus of fun explorations of artwork.  If you read it, let's discuss the "wait, what?" ending.

​The Latecomer by Jean Hanff Korelitz 
This novel seems to be super hyped right now.  The cover alone was good enough for me, plus I love sibling dynamics.  Once again, the reader is subject to a story beautifully crafted but with few lovable characters AND an added bonus of lots of artwork thrown in.  The ending is almost too satisfying and some stronger editing could've tripped 40-50 pages, but overall I thoroughly enjoyed The Latecomer.  Also, a big wow for how Korelitz occasionally fairly showcases multiple viewpoints on divisive issues.

​Tracy Flick Can't Win by Tom Perrotta
A late sequel to the book/Reese Witherspoon movie Election, I feel like high school teachers could certainly relate to this!  Books about small town politics are of interest to me, but this was just okay and pretty forgettable in my opinion.  

A Lowcountry Heart by Pat Conroy
Following visits to Hilton Head and Charleston, I'm in love with "lowcountry" and therefore in love with brilliant author Pat Conroy.  I'm still working my way through his collection, but loved this compilations of blog posts, letters, and speeches compiled following his death some years ago.  He mentions tons of authors and books, which had me toggling between the book and Goodreads nonstop.  Quick and mostly lighthearted- a perfect plane read!

The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell
In addition to Pat Conroy, I'm also working my way through Maggie O'Farrell's masterpieces.  Esme was a quick read but my goodness, there was so much packed in.  Points deducted for not being able to figure out what the hell was going on for the first twenty pages, but points added for "holy smokes!" ending.  Heavy but so well-done, because everything O'Farrell touches turns to gold.

​What are YOU reading now?


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