Spring Break is Here and the Reading is Easy
We are currently smack dab in the middle of Spring Break season, and with that comes more time for reading. But you don’t necessarily want to bring any old book on vacation (trust me—once I tried to bring Les Misérables on a cruise and it was a mistake). What makes a great vacation read? I think it needs to be fun, fast, and not so involved that you can’t put it down and pick it back up easily without losing track of what’s going on. Here are some of Dog-Eared’s picks that fit those exact criteria, spanning from fiction to mystery to romance—any of these would be a surefire hit for all of your leisurely reading time.
Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto
One day, a dead body ends up on the floor of Vera Wong’s tea shop, and she decides that she will solve the murder (since the police, she believes, are so incompetent, they don’t even think this it’s a murder!). Where else should she start if not inviting over every person who stopped by the tea shop after the victim’s obituary was published? Rikki and Sana both seem suspicious, as does the victim’s twin brother Oliver. And why does the widow have her late husband’s things all boxed up? Vera inserts herself into each of their lives, and the bonds that are formed are as surprising as they are strong. Beginning with an odd crime and ending with the formation of an unexpected found family—and the discovery of the murderer, Vera Wong is a delightful, laugh-out-loud funny adventure. Warm, poignant, and deeply charming, you’ll be thirsting for a cup of Vera’s tea and more time with its cast of lovable, life-like characters at the end of this cozy mystery.
Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson
Jenny Jackson was the editor behind Station Eleven, Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow, and Crazy Rich Asians so you know she understands how to put together a great story. She came up with the concept for this book while on a walk through her neighborhood in NYC and she looked through the window of a townhouse and saw a grand piano. She thought about what type of person owns a grand piano in the city and decided to write a story about them. That story is this book about the life of a wealthy family told from the perspectives of two daughters born into the family (Georgiana and Darley) and the one woman who married in (Sasha). Sasha can’t help but feel like there’s a secret code she’s missing and only wants to be part of the family, meanwhile Georgiana and Darley call her the GD (Gold-digger) because why else would Sasha behave so oddly? With loveable characters (and fun-to-hate characters) this is a smart, sexy book perfect for reading on the beach.
I Have Some Questions for You by Rebbeca Makkai
Twisty, immersive, and with a plot pulled as taut as a piano wire, this is a book that dances between campus novel and crime thriller with deftness and indisputably beautiful craft. Podcaster and film professor Bodie Kane is content to move on from her past—a family tragedy and the murder of her high school roommate—but finds herself enmeshed in everything again when she is asked to teach some courses back where everything happened. She can’t help but be pulled back into the murder case and the maybe-wrongful conviction of their school trainer, Omar Evans. When some students decide to take on the case in their podcasting class, Bodie realizes she might actually have the key to blowing this whole thing wide open. This novel meditates on responsibility, domestic violence, and the ethics and appeal of the true crime genre, but also tries to come to terms with Me Too reckonings. One of the most page-turner-y books I’ve read in a long time, this would be an excellent choice for fans of The Secret History or the podcast Serial.
Even Though I Knew the End by C. L. Polk
1920s detective noir + Faustian bargains + wizard lesbians = this little novella that packs a punch. Helen sold her soul 10 years ago to save her brother’s life, and she’s been given the chance to earn it back if only she can catch the serial killer known as the White City Vampire. While studying the victims, Helen begins to realize that each of them are dying almost exactly 10 years after getting their big break—meaning they’ve bargained away their immortal soul like her, and someone is punching their tickets just before time is up. Solving the case involves investigating her own biases and putting everything and everyone she loves on the line for the sparest chance of a happy-ever-after. Using a setting we know well with tropes that could be tired, Polk crafts something fresh, eerie, and as bittersweet as good dark chocolate. I absolutely tore through this book all the way to its achingly heartwarming ending, and I think its winsome plot and small stature make it an excellent vacation book.
Black Candle Women by Diane Marie Brown
The Montrose women have always lived together in their adorable little California bungalow—Augusta, Victoria, and Willow. They like to keep to themselves, rarely venture far from home, and their collections of tinctures, spells, and potions are an unspoken bond between them all. But when the youngest Montrose, Nickie, brings home a boy for the first time, everything is thrown awry. What Nickie doesn’t know is that any person a Montrose woman falls for is doomed to die. This unexpected visitor makes each woman reckon with her own past and mistakes. When new truths about this curse begin to emerge, they’re placed on the path of disaster that leads all the way back to New Orleans in the 1950s, where a story in a mysterious book might just hold all they answers they seek. A bold and tender story about mothers and daughters and the lengths people will go to for the chance at love, this spell-binding debut will have you rooting for them every step of the way.
The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
This fun and twisty thriller is the perfect book to get you out of a reading slump. It’s fast-paced and full of psychological suspense with short, page-turning chapters. What’s it about, you ask? When Millie takes on the job of live-in maid for Nina and Andrew in their fabulous house, she hopes it is her chance for a fresh-start. They don’t know her past and she needs it to stay that way, so she is willing to put up with Nina’s erratic behavior. How does Andrew put up with it, though? And what’s with the Italian gardner? Maybe Millie isn’t the only one with secrets…
Using multiple points-of-view characters, this book keeps you turning pages almost without realizing it. Don’t dig much more into this book before reading, because the plot is best experienced cold. Fast, fun, and with a little bit of smut, this is the kind of beach read that might leave you with a sunburn— you’ll get so lost in the story you forget about everything else, even reapplying sunscreen.
Love and Other Flight Delays by Denise Williams
Our love for Denise Williams is well-known at this store—her romance novels always dazzle. They’re smart, sexy, witty, and just fun. Her new collection of novellas are no exception. Included in Love and Other Flight Delays are three formerly audio-only stories: The Love Connection, which follows Ollie, a pet groomer trailblazing a new business model in the airport, and Bennett who is a risk assessor by day and a romance novelist at night as they fall in love after a chance encounter. The Missed Connection is a grumpy/sunshine romance focused on Felix and Gia, two academic rivals who shared one magic NYE together and now have to contend with their real-life disagreements. on a 5-school tour. The last novella is The Sweetest Connection, about two best friends, Teagan and Silas, as they try to find the lost recipient of a love letter left behind in an airport candy store—and maybe confess the deep feelings they have for each other before one of them leaves the country. Flirty, light, and perfect for reading and lounging, these novellas will steal your heart.
The Guncle by Steven Rowley
One of Bookseller Jess’s absolute favorites, this one is about Gay Uncle Patrick, a semi-retired legendary actor and the summer he shares with his niece and nephew after the death of their mother. Patrick is mourning the loss of his own partner to AIDS and the kids are wrangling with not only the death of their mom but also the fact that their dad must go to rehab for his addiction to his late wife’s pain medicine. While the story sounds sad and depressing, it’s actually filled with warmth, love, and laughter. During this singular summer, both Gay Uncle Patrick and the kids help each other deal with their own grief through humor, theater references disguised as parental advice, and love. It’s heartwarming, tender, funny—all the things. If you were a person born in the 80s, 90s, or early 2000s, you’ll love this because of all the references. But really, this is an excellent choice for anyone who wants a sweet story filled with real life problems—and also real life hope and joy.
Stone Cold Fox by Rachel Koller Croft
Stone Cold Fox follows Bea, a charming and well-respected entrepreneur who has a special talent for conning wealthy men. She learned from the best since Bea spent her childhood learning how to swindle men and scamming their way into the 1% tax bracket from her mother. After years of scheming her way into the pockets of the filthy rich she is now determined to settle down and put her past behind her—she just has to pull off one last con to secure her future. Bea sets her mark on one of New York City's most eligible bachelors, and once she has secured a ring she will be financially set for life. Loads of craziness ensues as Bea tries to work her way into one of the wealthiest families in the country. Think Gossip Girl's level of scheming on every page with a titillating game of cat and mouse, and an absolutely bananas ending! A perfect blast of escapist fiction, this is a juicy thriller to sweep you away.
Get Thee Off My Lawn by Daria Vernon
This short, cute, and spicy novelette is the perfect book to get you out of a book hangover, reading slump, or just a bad mood. April Nightingale just wants what is best for her swans—and will not rest until they mate for life, as intended— but unfortunately her male swan, Gerald, has a penchant for her neighbor’s pond, and regularly absconds there. Leopold Derring was not expecting a swam thief in his pond today, and doesn’t understand why his neighbor insists on stealing his feathered tenants. This thief, though, comes with a gap-toothed, mischievous grin and is entirely too enticing to resist. Gerald the Swan does as he likes, and paddling on whatever pond he chooses is one of his greatest pleasures. Unfortunately for him, the two people who “own” his ponds are incapable of declaring their affection for one another without a fowl pawn to play. Silly, sexy, singular, and easy to breeze through in an afternoon, this is a great book to talk about with your friends by the pool.
