Summer is a time of relaxation amidst adventure. Bring one (or all) of these much-loved selections along, and all you'll have the recipe for some perfect leisurely afternoons.
Magnolia Table, Volume 2: A Collection of Recipes for Gathering by Joanna Gaines 85
For those who love to read and for those who love to take action, check out Magnolia Table, Volume 2. Take a trip into the kitchen with the beloved Joanna Gaines as she introduces new recipes and shares her experience of finding true hospitality rather than caving to the pressure of perfection. Yes, you read that correctly; the woman who set a trend's standards struggled with perfection. Also, the photos are beautiful!
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens 88
Around since 2018, this book promises to be a perfect summer read. Set in 1969, this is the tale of Kya Clark, a "Marsh Girl" living life on the North Carolina coast among the crickets and the crawdads, raised by nature and testing the waters of rejoining humanity. Shocking, intriguing, and heartbreaking all at once, Where the Crawdads Sing is sure to give you the sense of a classic in its early days. Love sensory-laden, descriptive writing? This one's for you.
The Girl with the Louding Voice: A Novel by Abi Daré 75
This highly-acclaimed novel shares the journey of Adunni, a young Nigerian woman who seeks her own independence, her own education, and her own voice. Faced with heartbreaking hurdles and the resistance of society, Adunni pursues her mother's training: to find her "louding voice" and the chance to create her own future as a young Nigerian woman in a world of societal oppression and injustice.
Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner 91
After her falling out with Drue, Daphne moved on to enjoy her career as a plus-size influencer, no longer dealing with the glam and the drama of Drue's charmed life. But when Drue returns after years of silence and asks Daphne to be her maid of honor at the wedding of the summer in Cape Cod, Daphne contemplates letting Drue back into her life...and the consequences it might bring. If you enjoy the complexities of friendship with a touch of high society, give this a read.
