What's In YOUR Beach Bag?

Summer is officially here, and it is HOT HOT HOT! We hit 100 degrees in Central Ohio yesterday. The only thing to do? Head straight for the beach (or nearest municipal pool) with the “have-to-have” accessory of the season: a great summer read! So, what’s in YOUR beach bag this year?

To me, the essence of a great summer read is that it is fun, casual, and not too taxing on my poor little brain cells. C’mon, they are already working overtime trying to keep me cool! Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for the great literary classics, but sometimes it’s fun just to kick back and not have to think too hard. With that in mind, here are three of my favorites:

Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons by Lorna Landvik. This novel follows the five neighbors of Freesia Court through forty years of friendship, laughter, and the tribulations of life – and death. The gals meet each month to read a book and eat dessert. Landvik does a great job of bringing all the women to life, without any of them falling off into the land of caricatures. Plus, there is a huge BONUS – each chapter begins with the title of the book the women are reading, so it’s a little like having a built-in reading list (the recommendations are top notch!)

Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner: Plus-sized Cannie Shapiro opens the pages of Moxie magazine only to find that her ex-boyfriend has written a piece for their “Good in Bed” column entitled, “Loving a Larger Woman.” About her. Ouch! Not to worry, as we follow Cannie through her heartbreak, we are soon rooting both for her and with her – and you can be sure that this full figured gal will come out on top by the end of the story!

ANY of the Stephanie Plum Numbered Mysteries (One for the Money all the way up to the most-recent release, Sizzling Sixteen) by Janet Evanovich: Evanovich’s prose is witty, fast-paced and truly laugh out loud funny. Not really the best bounty hunter out there, Stephanie tirelessly pursues her folder of FTAs (Failure to Appear) with her sidekick Lula (a former ho). It doesn’t hurt matters that she’s got two hot men in her life to assist her – Detective Joe Morelli and co-worker and Bounty Hunter extraordinaire, Ranger. Be prepared – Evanovich is irreverent and potty mouthed, and absolutely hysterical. You don’t need to follow these books in sequence, as each one is a stand alone title, with enough information and background that you won’t be left guessing – except as to which guy Stephanie will end up with!

So, now’s your chance to share. What will you be reading this summer? What’s on your list?

Happy Reading!

For more from writer Beth Zellner, please visit:

http://www.bethnbijoux.blogspot.com/