It’s the middle of July and we’re getting right into the heart of summer. It’s hot. It’s sticky. We know you’re looking for good books to take to the pool, the beach, or just to read while sitting on your porch. Johnson County Library has you covered – not only can you visit and get suggestions from your friendly neighborhood librarian, we also can give you sneak peeks into books that aren’t quite out yet, so you can get on the hold list and fill up that beach bag with stuff we know you’ll love.
Blake Crouch absolutely needs to be on your radar. Dark Matter is a fast-paced, emotionally packed science-based thriller featuring a college physics professor who stumbles across an invention that allows him to travel to alternate realities where different personal decisions were made. But it takes him away from his wife and son, and he has to use his science background and quick wits to find his way back home. This is a smart, fun summer read - a page-turner for those who are looking for something engaging with more than a mindless plot with action sequences. This one also has a cinematic feel to it, so I won’t be surprised if a few summers down the line this ends up on the big screen starring Chris Pratt.
Speaking of movie and TV stars, there’s an upcoming thriller that’s based on the world of reality TV – but with an apocalyptic twist. The Last One by Alexandra Olivia features characters in a “Survivor” style TV show who are cut off from the rest of the world while the show is taping. When something big happens to the rest of the world, the contestants are truly in the dark, as are we, and part of the fun is figuring out what exactly is going on. (Terrorist attack? Global pandemic? Alien invasion?) The main character, an animal researcher nicknamed Zoo, is gutty and determined, an underdog among the more athletic and survivalist types on the show, and we’re fully in her corner from page one. Alexandra Olivia is a gifted writer and this book switches forward and backward in time, keeping complete knowledge JUST out of our reach until it can achieve maximum impact. She’s obviously has watched a LOT of reality tv, and the novel is full of twists and turns that should keep you turning pages.
Here Comes the Sun by Nicole Dennis-Benn is a standout, and has been mentioned by several other media outlets for a great summer read. Set in a touristy area of Jamaica where a group of native women navigate relationships, money, family, and their future among the bright beaches and crystalline waters that bring the crowds from all corners of the world. But make no mistake – Dennis-Benn’s novel is no empty, sweet pastry that's all icing and no cake. This novel has a powerful emotional center with richly-drawn characters that evoke the darker side of paradise – or what maintaining paradise means for the people who have to live and work there. This one will be an excellent book club pick, too.
If you like dark, twisty, psychological thrillers like Gone Girl or The Girl on the Train, then All is Not Forgotten by Wendy Walker might be for you. Set in the very near future where traumatic memories can be erased by a drug, a girl is assaulted at a party. She takes the drug to help her recover, but soon realizes she needs to uncover what truly happened to her before she can truly heal. Taking place in a tight-knit community where everyone has secrets and everyone is suspect, this one leads to a completely you-didn’t-see-it-coming conclusion. (This one is also featured in actress and book lover Reese Witherspoon’s reading club.)
Happy reading, everyone! Have a great summer, and be sure to rate what you’re reading in the library catalog – or even post a comment - so that the rest of the community knows what you think.