CHECK ME OUT

Check Me Out ;) WORDS Jane Martin, City Librarian Winter Haven Public Library 325 Avenue A NW, Winter Haven

THE HOTEL NANTUCKET By Elin Hilderbrand

Hilderbrand is the queen of summer beach reads, and her latest doesn’t disappoint. It’s the story of a derelict hotel on Nantucket, which declined after a tragic fire in the 1920s, getting a new life when a London billionaire bankrolls a restoration. The book is full of memorable, likable characters - some familiar from Hilderbrand’s other books - and serves up just enough surprises to keep you reading after shaking the sand out of your shoes.

THE SETUP By Lizzy Dent

“The Setup” is the perfect romcom summer read - a funny and heartwarming story about a spurof-the-moment impersonation that sets in motion a plan of personal reinvention. Even though the main character is flawed (like, really flawed), you will still root for her to find her love, and the supporting cast of characters is well developed and make the book even better. It is filled with laughs and love - it is perfect for a quick beach read.

MEAN BABY By Selma Blair

I was so excited to read Selma Blair’s new memoir, and it did not disappoint. Blair is a great storyteller - from her childhood to Hollywood, to her struggles with alcohol and then forward into motherhood and living with MS - Blair infuses her memories with humor, intelligence, and honest vulnerability.

THE HACIENDA By Isabel Canas

My beach tote would not be complete without a ghost story thrown in by the sunscreen. Something about a sunny beach makes me long for a dark, haunted house, and “The Hacienda” is the perfect gothic read. The story tackled some serious issues - love, race, history, religion, and Mexican folklore - while also sending shivers down my spine.

THIS IS NOT A BOOK ABOUT BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH By Tabitha Carvan

How can you resist a book with the title? You can’t, so don’t - jump on in and enjoy. This book is built around the premise that women need to play, that we don’t need permission to geek out over the things we love. Caravan writes with so much humor that I found myself laughing out loud, but I also was transformed. This book is about finding joy and embracing your obsessions - even when others call them frivolous.

TWILIGHT By Stephanie Meyer

Here’s a throwback guilty pleasure perfect for reading on a summer afternoon. I don’t know how I missed reading this book during the “Twilight” craze of the early 2000s, but I did. So, this year I decided to finally read Bella and Edward’s story. I am happy I did. This book is fun to hate, but I think Meyer was smart to embrace a classic romantic trope and give it some new life. And her descriptions of the Pacific Northwest make me want to find my own sparkly vampire deep in the rainy forest.

SLEEPWALK By Dan Chaon

A flawed hero on a strange road trip through a future and fractured America. “Sleepwalk” tapped into some of my current anxieties and kept me on edge throughout this dark, psychological thriller. If you want something a little weightier in your beach bag, “Sleepwalk” is an excellent choice.