Good Reads : Perfect Summer Books

It's about a thousand degrees in Southern California right now. Okay, it's actually in the 90s, but it feels like a thousand degrees. It's the kind of days that make you want to lay in a bucket of ice. Or curl up in the fridge with a good book. Speaking of good books, I read a few gems these past few weeks and I wanted to share them.

Like always, I don't talk about the books I didn't like, so if you see them in the photo and no mention was made, they weren't worth mentioning.

Astonish Me by Maggie Shipstead – I read the most when I travel to shoot a wedding (time on a plane is a treasured gift with a good book). Every so often I find a book that makes me want to get to the hotel and only leave the room to shoot. While photographing a wedding in Sonoma a few weeks ago, I stayed up late and woke up early to finish Astonish Me. It's a story about a ballerina who'd never become a principle dancer and the decisions she made to ensure her life was marked by the ballet. Sounds trite, but it was written so well!

We Are Called to Rise by Laura McBride – This book hit me out of the blue. I was not expecting to love this book as much as I did. Oh, how I sobbed when I finished it. While JD drove down the 405 freeway from LAX, I reread the last page to him aloud. And cried some more. It was well-written, the story was compelling, and the characters stay with you well after you've closed the book. SO good.

Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh – A sweet blog reader (Hi, Maria!) sent me this book as a gift and I didn't know what to make of a book of cartoon short stories. But let me tell you this: hi-lar-i-ous. It was sometimes uncomfortable and inappropriate, but in a way that makes you laugh at the awkwardness of it all. It was the perfect book to let my brain simply turn-off and enjoy the humor.

#GIRLBOSS by Sophia Amoruso – I was a little late to this game, but I'm really glad I ordered this book. It was short, compelling and a swift kick in the pants. It's a part business, part fashion, part how-to-hustle book and though it's like aimed for a younger audience, I really enjoyed every chapter. At the end, I felt inspired to create more and take bigger risks.

Lowland by Jhumpa Lahiri – In light of full disclosure, Jhumpa Lahiri can do no wrong in my eyes. I started reading her work in college and have been smitten with her work (particularly her short stories, The Interpreter of Maladies) ever since. While the story wasn't as compelling as I would have liked, the way she told a story that spanned decades was beautifully done. For this alone, I applaud this book…and she still remains one of my author crushes.

Euphoria by Lily King – I'm not the type of person who grabs a book off a book shelf…I really only ever read books that have been recommended by friends. However, in a last-minute dash to the bookstore before a flight, I snagged this book. And I'm really happy I did. It was intriguing, well-crafted, and executed with care. I wouldn't have guessed I would enjoy the story of three anthropologists in New Guinea as much as I did, but that's the power of a good book.

Happy Thursday!