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Top 3 Summer Books to Binge-Read

DITCH THE NETFLIX AND IMMERSE YOURSELF IN A GREAT BOOK!

Article by Susan Ginsberg

Photography by Stock Photos

Now more than ever, I have been going through books more quickly than I have been finishing my favorite binge-worthy Netflix series! I tend to have an eclectic taste in books, and can vacillate between science fiction, historical fiction, thrillers, and even quantum physics in a typical month. Lately, I have been choosing books that are lighter in subject matter and a bit more of an escape. The perfect recipe for a summer book choice. I have narrowed my list to the three top books that you just won't want to put down.

1. The Dream Daughter by Diane Chamberlain


This book has all the ingredients of a book that is a true winner for me. A mother who has to take desperate measures to save her unborn child, coupled with time travel. A young woman, Carly, is widowed by the Vietnam War. She soon learns that her unborn baby girl has a heart defect. She is absolutely devastated, as this child was the only thing she had left of her deceased husband. Since the year is 1970, fetal surgery is not an option. Her mysterious brother-in-law who is a scientist, suggests a way to save her baby. Initially, she fears her brother-in-law is crazy, but she soon realizes it is her only hope to save her baby. It requires that Carly take a huge leap of faith to take this chance and save her daughter. The historic references to the 1970s and the early 2000s make this book particularly enjoyable and realistic, given the subject matter! The characters are very well developed and the story has a way of drawing you in.


2. Your Perfect Life by Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke


Although this book has a similar story (think Freaky Friday or Trading Places) to many others preceding it, the book was written with such warmth and true insights, that I found it a charming escape and a thought-provoking book. Best friends since childhood, Casey and Rachel have grown in different directions. Casey, a Gossip TV host and big-time celebrity with an entourage, comes home nightly to her empty apartment. In a stark contrast, her friend Rachel, a stay-at-home mom, juggles three children and a husband who seems to not even notice her. At their high school reunion reunion, a bartender makes them a couple of shots to help soothe the tension. Instead, they wake up in each other's homes and each other's bodies, and have no idea if they will be able to switch back. Or if they want to!

I was drawn to this book because I had a similar situation many years ago. One of my best friends from college went the career path while I chose to get married and start a family at a younger age. We often had conversations of whose life was easier, more fulfilling, and happier. We joked of the desire to 'change places' and really see for ourselves. When I saw this book, I immediately thought of my friend and our many conversations of this topic. Although the book is a light read, it is a well-written book that has many pop culture references and thought-provoking insights, and it is sure to grab your attention.

3. The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides


Oh how I love to escape into a good, psychological thriller! Taking place in London, Alicia is a famous painter married to a fashion photographer. One evening, her husband Gabriel returns home and Alicia shoots him five times in the face and then never speaks another word. Locked away in a psych ward and exhibiting violent behavior, enter Theo Faber, a criminal psychotherapist determined to reach her and unravel the mystery of why she shot her husband. Twists, turns, and surprises await you. This is not your cookie-cutter psychological thriller, but it is expertly written with regard to character development and plot. If this is your genre, I encourage you to add this to your reading list!

From time travel to body switching to murder mystery- I hope these books make it to your summer reading list. We all can use a great escape written by one of these fabulous storytellers!

I would love to know what my readers are the most interested in seeing each week. Please drop me a line telling me what interests you most. Do you have something really interesting you would like me to share? I would love to hear about it!

Email: Susan@stopandbreathe.org, find me on: InstagramFacebook, or visit my website: StopandBreathe.org

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