How’s your summer reading going? Do you read more in the summer than the rest of the year? I’m on a good reading streak right now thankfully.
If you’re still looking for summer reading ideas, you may want to consider Little Mercies by Heather Gudenkauf- it just hit shelves last month on June 24. The subject matter is topical, and it’s a gripping read, perfect for your summer reading adventures.
I’ve been reading a combination of re-reads (getting ready for upcoming book/movie adaptations) and new releases so far this summer. In fact, I have a stack of adult fiction books on my TBR that I’ll share with you. There are all kinds of stories here in these books, but they all have kind of a family theme that ties them together.
Seven Summer Reads:
California by Edan Lepucki – This post-apocalyptic debut takes place 40 years in the future and is set in my home state. California follows a married couple trying to survive in a new dangerous landscape.
Steal the North by Heather Brittain Bergstrom – This debut is about love, faith and family and is set in rural Washington.
Bittersweet by Miranda Beverly-Whittemore – I’m reading this now, and it’s a twisty tale about family secrets, friendship, privilege, and morality.
Landline by Rainbow Rowell – This book is about a marriage in trouble and the magic phone that may be the key to saving it.
The Never Never Sisters by L. Alison Heller – Two sisters are reunited after twenty years in this book about family, secrets, and marriage.
The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henriquez – This book is about love, family and the immigrant experience. It’s the story of a couple who move from Mexico to Delaware to help their teenage daughter recover after an accident.
Little Mercies by Heather Gudenkauf – Little Mercies is about a social worker who finds herself on the wrong side of the law when the unthinkable happens. The story is one you’ve seen in the news this summer and is a family’s worst nightmare. Lots to unpack with this one and I think it would make for a good book club discussion.
About the book:
Veteran social worker Ellen Moore has seen the worst side of humanity—the vilest acts one person can commit against another. She is a fiercely dedicated children’s advocate and a devoted mother and wife. But one blistering summer day, a simple moment of distraction will have repercussions that Ellen could never have imagined, threatening to shatter everything she holds dear, and trapping her between the gears of the system she works for.
Meanwhile, ten-year-old Jenny Briard has been living with her well-meaning but irresponsible father since her mother left them, sleeping on friends’ couches and moving in and out of cheap motels. When Jenny suddenly finds herself on her own, she is forced to survive with nothing but a few dollars and her street smarts. The last thing she wants is a social worker, but when Ellen’s and Jenny’s lives collide, little do they know just how much they can help one another.
A powerful and emotionally charged tale about motherhood and justice, Little Mercies is a searing portrait of the tenuous grasp we have on the things we love the most, and of the ties that unexpectedly bring us together.
More about Little Mercies:
- Visit Heather Gudenkauf’s Official Site
- Follow Heather Gudenkauf on Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest
- Visit Little Mercies page on Goodreads
- Grab a Book Club Kit!
The Giveaway has ended!
Congrats to Sandra who won a Heather Gudenkauf book bundle including Little Mercies, The Weight of Silence and These Things Hidden!
*This post is sponsored by Harlequin (publisher of Little Mercies) but all opinions, photos and content are my own.
Many of those books are in my TBR pile as well. Thanks for the great giveaway!
I really need to get on my summer reading, as summer is practically halfway over. Your picture makes me want to go outside and read though. Too bad I am stuck here at work right now.
I’m behind on my own summer reading. I love your list. Thank you for the giveaway.
I am excited to see my debut novel, STEAL THE NORTH, on your Seven Summer Reads list. It’s an impressive list. Thanks so much, Lucy! I hope you enjoy my book–and the rest of your summer! Readers can learn more about my novel at http://www.heatherbrittainbergstrom.com