Magazines are all flush with the summer reading lists, and I’ve been asked to compile a never-fail list of books for the perfect summer reading. Any time, any part of the romance genre, with the only caveat that they still be in print.
I’ve been doodling my faves in various genres, and have a pretty diverse list of old and newer books, but I wanted to query the Power of the Bitchery. Is there a book that without fail will give you hours of sunny, peaceful enjoyment, complete with perfect tan, that really great post-ocean-swim hair, and the warm bliss of a happy ending? What’s your personal never-lets-you-down book for happy summer vacation reading?
Lizzy,
So glad you reminded me about My Cousin Rachel. I just checked- I don’t have a copy of that anywhere!
The first line of Rebecca is awesome as well Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again. Such a powerful book, it was the second time I read it before I noticed that the second Mrs. deWinter, who is the narrator, never is mentioned by name.
The time travel, House on the Strand, was also awesome, and it brings to mind another truly great book that I will never lend or sell- so you really need to read it people- Anya Seton’s, Green Darkness.
So glad we started talking about these truly phenomenal books. These books go beyond the term classic. By the way, the movie version of Rebecca won the Academy Award for Best Picture in the ‘30’s.
Coming out of lurkdom to second Sunshine by Robin McKinley as well as The Changeling Sea by Patricia McKillip and Sorcery and Cecelia by Wrede and Stevermer. As for romances: Julia Quinn, Lynn Kurland, Gaelen Foley and Mary Balogh.
@Virginia: I know, I know. I could talk about these books forever. (Which opening line is better, I wonder: “Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again,” v. “They used to hang men at Four Turnings in the old days. Not anymore, though.” Ack! Chills.)
But I fear that I’m jacking this thread, so I promise to stop now.
It sure as hell doesn’t have a happy ending, but every time I go to a beach for vacation, I read Lolita by Nabakov.
I hate the story and I feel a little icky every time I read it, but I keep coming back becayse I love the prose so very very much.
The way he uses the english language is just brilliant.
They’re not romances but I always find myself rereading
The Long Winter and These Happy Golden Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder.
Yep. It was summer when I first read them.
nicole- I will need to throw Poison Study on my list to read.
i don’t think I have ever heard Flowers in the Attic and giggles in the same sentence before. lol
Elizabeth- Along with Butcher, Gaimain and Pratchett have you read Simon R Green’s stuff? I love it, it is so just out there. Although I didn’t like the new series he started as much as I do his original stuff.
Sarah- I am sooo upset having to wait until December to finish the Blood Brothers series. arrgghhh….
Strong second on Green Darkness!!!
I also recommend old Susan Howatch, especially Cashelmara and The Wheel of Fortune. I don’t much care for her work since Wheel since it’s strongly religious and I’m not a religious person.
Judith Merkle Riley! You won’t be sorry if you add her to you summer reading list. Start with “A Vision of Light” and lucky you, there are two sequels, “In Pursuit of the Green Lion” and “The Water Devil.” And, don’t neglect “The Oracle Glass.” Fun times.
I’m another for the Georgette Heyer bandwagon. I’ve read A LOT of hers.
My top five:
1.) These Old Shades -Avon is my favorite hero EVAH. Handsome, witty, brilliant, elegant, fierce, the man is fan-FUCKIN-tastic. And Leonie is a perfect match for him.
2.) The Talisman Ring– this one is Hilarious, two couples- one young and flighty the other older with a dry, bantering flirtation going on just below the surface the whole time. And the scene with Ludovic and the scent bottle=SO GOOD.
3.) The Grand Sophy– Sohpy is a great character, and I can never resist the way she does the metaphorical smack upside the hero’s head when he needs it.
4.) Cotillion– cute plot, so freaking funny!
5.) The Unknown Ajax– adorable romance, drool-worthy hero, and one of the best comedic scenes I think she ever wrote.
And if you were looking for something BESIDES Heyer I know I loved reading The Raider by Jude Deveraux over the summer. It’s lighter than her medievals and has some really funny bits. Whatever else she falls short on JD has written some really funny scenes over the years.
Oh, and Jennifer Crusie better make the list too! I personally like Faking It and Bet Me.
hmmm since I just read whatever I’m in the mood to read, the time of year having little affect on what I want, I have one book that is fun to read when I’m someplace I don’t particularly care to participate in the general activities in. Angel of the Opera by Sam Sicillianno. It’s Sherlock holmes meets the Phantom of the Opera.
Hey, I’m just chiming in way late to say that Sunshine is AWESOME, but it is NOT a YA book. It may be suitable for some older YAs to read, but if you go into it expecting YA-ness and Robin McKinley circa Beauty, you’re going to be surprised by the cursing and sex and . . . general NOT YA-ness.
The last book I read on a beach was Mercedes Lackey’s By the Sword, back in, um, 1995. Yikes! I need to go to a beach, stat!
I love all of Suzanne Brockmann’s Troubleshooter books, but especially “Out of Control”
Bikini Season by Sheila Roberts.
Not a classic (yet), but a fun summer womfic read about a subject we can all relate to.
What’s a bikini???
give me anything of Suz Brockmann’s and I am happy.
A torture device designed to make even the most thin and fit person disgusted with her body.
Heyer people, it’s The Grand Sophy hands down. I can finish the last page and turn to the first and start all over again.
I’m hooked on the Twilight series, too, I’ll admit (with the exception of those long monologues in Eclipse, but this is one of the few times I can overlook something irritating in the writing in favor of the story). Apparently, angsty vegetarian vampires really float my boat—who knew??? I certainly didn’t, because I *swore* I wasn’t going to get into the paranormal junk… ::sigh:: Darn you, Jacqueline Frank! 🙂
But as far as summer romance reads (and re-reads, and re-re-reads :P) go, I love Linda Howard’s early books, especially Mr. Perfect and Dream Man (not, however, her latest books, which just seem flat to me). Any of the Mallory novels by Johanna Lindsey are great, as are the Donovan books by Elizabeth Lowell (and I’m with you, BevQB—we need more Donovans!! At last count, there were two single Donovan men left! PLEASE, Elizabeth, write the stories for Justin and Lawe!) I also keep picking up Lisa Kleypas’s Somewhere I’ll Find You and Someone to Watch Over Me. And, despite my heaved sigh in the paragraph above, Jacqueline Frank writes a nicely steamy paranormal romance with her Nightwalker series (Jacob and Elijah make me want to go out and find a demon of my own—yummy!)
Good to know, I’ve been thinking about reading her books for a long time and keep ordering and cancelling. It’s good to get a recommendation with respect to this series. I like a quick “steamy” paranormal read sometimes..
I know I’m very late adding a comment to this thread but FYI. A book just released recently that I’d highly recommend is Stephanie Meyer’s, “The Host”, Sci Fi / Fantacy. Excellent read, it’s only out in hard cover right now so borrowing from the library might be an option?
I got hooked on historical romance a few months ago and have read many, many books since then! Julia Quinn has absolutely never let me down. I just wish my library carried more than 3 of her books; I’m going broke buying them. (And I wish my library had computers so it would be easier to request InterLibrary Loan… ahh, small towns.)