Summer Reads

Need a summer read recommendation? Here are a few from local independent bookstores to stash in your beach bag or suitcase.

The Scotswoman by Inglis Fletcher

“With all the interest in Moores Creek (National Battlefield) generated by Outlander, this is a good companion read. Fletcher’s narrative starts in Scotland with Flora MacDonald and charts the Scottish immigration to the Cape Fear area, culminating in the battle of Moores Creek.

Fletcher is buried in the national cemetery at 20th and Market Street. It is a great combo of local history, family obligation, love, and a tide of events that change the world.”

– Gwenyfar Rohler, managing partner of Old Books on Front Street, 249 North Front Street

Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino

“After losing house after house in Washington, D.C.’s ultra-competitive real estate market, Margo Miyake feels stuck in her life, her marriage, and her cramped apartment. She becomes fixated on the belief that her life will finally begin once she buys the perfect house. When she catches wind that her dream home in her dream neighborhood is about to be listed, she descends into an all-consuming obsession, determined to buy it before it hits the market. Fast-paced, darkly comedic, and suspenseful, Best Offer Wins shines a light on how the desire for status can make monsters of us, leaving readers to question how far they would go to attain the life they think they deserve. With its twists and propulsive pacing, you won’t want to put this one down, and you might even find yourself rooting for Margo on her unhinged crusade. It’s the perfect beach read to kick off your summer vacation or break a reading slump!”

– Mallory Cash, co-owner, Floodplain Books, set to open this year at 23 North Front Street

The Dog Stars by Peter Heller

“After a devastating pandemic, a pilot finds himself isolated and living in an airplane hangar until he hears a fuzzy radio transmission and embarks on a perilous journey to reach its source. Taking off with his dog as copilot, he traverses the lonely but stunningly beautiful wilderness, drawn by the hope of finding fellow humans. Written by nature writer and poet Peter Heller, this haunting, hopeful – and sometimes funny – tale reminds us of our ties to the natural world and the importance of human connection. Long summer days will give you time to read it before the Ridley Scott film is released in August.”

-Kathleen Jewell, owner of Pomegranate Books, 4418 Park Avenue

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