Books for All Seasons

I love to read. I always have.

When I was 10, you could often find me curled up in a comfy chair in our living room, facing our front yard, engrossed in the latest mystery. These days, I like to read a little bit of everything, but want to broaden my scope. So, I asked my very smart, very well read friend, Susie Orman Schnall, whose 3rd novel comes out this summer, to put together a reading list for 2018 – something for every season – that I could also share with all of you. Susie…take it away!Each season lends itself to a particular feeling. A sense of staying in and hunkering down or a sense of starting things anew and being vibrant. Or, perhaps, something in the middle. Here, book recommendations – both old and new – for all four seasons. This is just a starting off point, so please share with us what you’re reading and recommending!

WINTER: Time to be cozy, hibernate, and curl up with a satisfying read. Time to make resolutions and contemplate the new year ahead.

BETWEEN THE WORLD AND ME by Ta-Nehisi Coates. In light of the simmering (and boiling over) tensions in our country, everyone should read this raw, honest, and eye-opening book to better understand racism in America.

SHE REGRETS NOTHING by Andrea Dunlop. A highly anticipated release that is being described as a smart, dark, and highly satistying glimpse into the upper echelons of NYC society.

THE WIFE BETWEEN US by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen. The perfect twisty novel to start off the year and make you thankful for all you have in your life that’s “normal”.

THRIVE by Arianna Huffington. Do away with resolutions that never stick and commit to transforming your lifestyle, redesigning success, and embracing wellness.

YEAR OF YES by Shonda Rhimes. Shonda, the force behind Grey’s, Scandal, and everything else we can’t stop watching, recounts her year of deciding to say yes to everything. True inspiration as we start a new year.

SPRING: Get a fresh start, lighten your load, and sink your teeth into a great read.

THE HUSBAND HOUR by Jamie Brenner. The latest by the author of last year’s hit The Forever Summer, this book is a testament to the strength of women.

LIMELIGHT by Amy Poeppel. A smart, funny, and fresh tale about modern motherhood combined with celebrity culture.

HOMEGOING by Yaa Gyasi. One of the most celebrated books of 2017, this magnificent book is an absolute must read about the families and legacies of American slavery.

THE POWER OF HABIT by Charles Duhigg. This bestseller explains why habits exist and how they can be changed. Powerful enough to truly impact how you live your life.

A WRINKLE IN TIME by Madeleine L’Engle. Be sure to re-read this childhood favorite in time for the film release on March 9, starring Oprah, Reese, and Mindy and directed by Ava.

BAD FEMINIST by Roxanne Gay. Gay is a force in modern political and feminist discourse, and her essays are funny, insightful, and perspective-changing.

SUMMER: Time to kick back and enjoy a summer read.

THE SUBWAY GIRLS by Susie Orman Schnall (YAY!!!). Historical fiction about the fascinating Miss Subways contest, this is a charming story of two strong women, a generation apart, who find themselves up against the same eternal struggle to find an impossible balance between love, happiness, and ambition.

THE LAST BLACK UNICORN by Tiffany Haddish. Newly out in paperback, this hilarious collection of essays will have you laughing, crying, and getting personal with breakout star Haddish.

THE BANKER’S WIFE by Cristina Alger. Nelson DeMille called this book “a page-turning, plot-twisting international thriller of the first order.”

GIRLS’ NIGHT OUT (book jacket not yet available) by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke. A perfect summer read from this duo of bestselling authors about a girls’ trip to Tulum gone wrong.

CRAZY RICH ASIANS by Kevin Kwan. Read this (and maybe even the rest of the three-book series) before the highly anticipated movie release on August 17.

FALL: Time to get back to reality with work, school, and schedules. Here are some reads to stimulate your mind.

NASTY WOMEN by Samhita Mukhopadhyay and Kate Harding. Just in time for the midterm elections, this is an anthology of inspiring essays on protest and solidarity by 23 leading feminist writers.

THE MASTERPIECE by Fiona Davis. Davis, the master of dual storyline historical fiction, does it again with a story set in Grand Central about a lost art school, the ambition of women, and the twists and turns we’ve come to expect from this bestselling author.

THE FEMALE PERSUASION by Meg Wolitzer. The new release from famed author Wolitzer, Publishers Weekly calls it, “Ambitious and satisfying…This insightful and resonant novel explores what it is to both embrace womanhood and suffer because of it.”

ESSENTIALISM by Greg McKeown. A slim, gem of a book with 1,000 five-star reviews on Amazon, Essentialism is easy to read and a concept everyone can benefit from.

THE GLASS OCEAN (coming out in Sept, book jacket not yet available) by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, and Karen White. The second effort by this team of writers who brought us the beloved The Forgotton Room, this novel is set on the Lusitania, which sank during World War I.

So, there you have it. Books for all seasons and for whatever season you may be in personally. Read what grabs you, skip what doesn’t. Please share if you do read any of these and let us know what you think. We’d love to know!

Happy Reading!