Looking for the perfect summer read? 📚☀️ Mary Olson, Readers’ Advisory Librarian at Medina County District Library, has you covered with top picks that are full of heart, humor, and unforgettable characters. Curl up with It’s a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan, dive into the celebrity world in Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid, enjoy the warmth and wit of My Friends by Fredrik Backman, or escape to Italy in The View from Lake Como by Adriana Trigiani. There’s something for every reader this summer!
It’s a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan
This collection of novels explores love, ambition, and self-discovery. It’s a Love Story follows a former sitcom star facing her past to revive her passion and maybe find love. Atmosphere portrays a determined female astronaut fighting for recognition in the 1980s. My Friends celebrates art and human connection across generations. In The View from Lake Como, a devoted daughter’s journey to Italy leads to romance and the courage to pursue her dreams.
Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
A delightful and poignant enemies-to-lovers romance from the author of Nora Goes Off Script that features a woman whose past makes her feel like an imposter in her present life. When creative film executive Jane Jackson finds a project she’s passionate about, she must convince the studio that the film is worth making. Jane always seeks to over deliver, because as a teen, she starred on a mid-level sitcom where she played comic relief and never got credit for her musical talent. To sweeten the deal with the studio, Jane has promised a song from pop music’s current it-guy, Jack Quinlan, whom she starred with on the sitcom (and who hurt her deeply). She’ll need the help of cinematographer Dan Finnegan, whose hometown music festival is the only way to reach Jack. Will teaming up with Dan lead to a flop, or a star-crossed romance?
My Friends by Fredrik Backman
A romantic and riveting novel that shines a light on a brilliant female astronaut in NASA’s training program during the 1980s, her struggle to be taken seriously as an astronaut, and the secret abiding love that propels her. Reid writes remarkable characters and a suspenseful plot with rich historical detail, making this an immersive and inspiring read that may be her best novel yet.
The View from Lake Como by Adriana Trigiani
A talented but overlooked marble artist finds herself—and love—with a one-way ticket to Italy. Jess is the dutiful daughter who takes care of everyone in her family, and puts herself last. She’s a skilled artisan, written off by everyone except her Uncle Louie. After a stunning loss, Jess travels to Italy in the hope of resurrecting her long-buried dreams. Meeting gold artisan Angelo and discovering hidden truths about her family’s history finally compels Jess to put herself first. A funny, witty, romantic novel with a beautifully described Italian setting.
