If you’re a New Orleans mom in search of great book recommendations, we have you covered. Whether your family is taking a road trip with kids from New Orleans or traveling to a nearby beach for just a day, there’s nothing better than a really good book. Whether it’s the one book we think you should stop what you’re doing to read, or a list of the best beach books we’ve read recently … we love to talk literature! And psssst. Most of our book recommendations are affiliate links.
Summer Reading for Grown-Ups
It’s been about a year since the last time I posted my book recommendations, and my evenings haven’t changed much since then. I still wait until my boys (now nine!) go to bed, and then get out my phone and start reading. I upgraded late last year to the big ol’ iPhone, so now I don’t even need my Kindle! The dog still curls up to me, and I still go to bed later than I should, because I just can’t stop reading.
So what are my favorites of the 100 or so books I’ve read since my last book post?
A Man Called Ove
by Fredrik Backman
A lovely book about a grumpy old dude in Sweden. (The movie is pretty great too, if you don’t mind subtitles.)
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry
by Rachel Joyce
A lovely book about a grumpy old dude in England who goes for a very long walk.
Bridget Jones’s Baby
by Helen Fielding
I’m a die-hard Bridget Jones fan, and I won’t apologize for it. I read the first book when I lived in London in the late 1990s, and rejoiced over the genius casting of Colin Firth as Mr Darcy (again.) I was disappointed with the second book and movie, and was meh about the third book (you can’t kill off Mark Darcy, I’m sorry.) But finally! Bridge is back to true form! Anyway, this is basically the movie in book form. Light, fluffy, and delightful.
A zillion books
by Elin Hilderbrand
How much do her books make you want to forsake Orange Beach for Nantucket? A lot. Well, budgetary reasons will keep us going to the Gulf instead of the Atlantic Ocean, but it’s fun to dream. My favorite of her books that I read recently was The Identicals. Of course.
Shrill
by Lindy West
I devoured the first half of the book, wanting to underline every other sentence. It resonated so much. The second half wasn’t as compelling, but Lindy West’s memoir stayed with me for a long time.
Murder mysteries set in Dublin. Perfect reading for a cold night, so maybe save them for winter. Or turn down the a/c and read in the dark. But not too dark, unless you like being creeped out.
All Our Wrong Todays
by Elan Mastai
I’m not a sci-fi fan normally, but this novel about time travel is an engrossing read.
Sisterland
by Curtis Sittenfeld
Apparently I have a thing for novels about identical twin sisters. Why do they never write books about identical brothers?!?!
Close Enough to Touch
by Colleen Oakley
Jubilee Jenkins has an allergy to human touch, but she falls in love. Now don’t you want to read the whole book?
The Horse Dancer
by Jojo Moyes
I’ll read anything by Jojo Moyes, even if it’s about an girl who wants to, well, teach her horse to dance.
Island Girls / The Island House
by Nancy Thayer
When you run out of Elin Hilderbrand books, Nancy Thayer is the next best bet. You can never have too many books about rich people living on Nantucket.
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine
by Gail Honeyman
Let’s get real. Eleanor Oliphant is kind of nuts, but you may end up loving her too.
Once and for All (and others)
by Sarah Dessen
YA for when you’ve run out of Rainbow Rowell books. This is her most recent.
Do Not Become Alarmed
by Maile Meloy
Well, kind of a parenting nightmare, if I’m honest. But a compelling read. And unlikely to happen in real life, but just in case, maybe avoid cruise excursions to be on the safe side.
So, make sure your library card is up to date, and get to reading!