Get Bookish: August Recommendations

Get BOOKISH Enjoy these four must-read books from our friends at Bookish, Fort Smith, Arkansas’s only independently-owned bookstore. Shop hours: Monday 11am-4pm, Tuesday - Friday 10am-6pm

August Recommendations courtesy Sara Putman, Bookish and Saturday 10am-4pm. Need curbside delivery? Call 479.434.2917 or email orders@bookishfs.com.

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Get ready for the perfect summer read with Reid’s newest sweeping family saga featuring surfers, love, heartbreak, rock and roll, and the most beautiful sibling bonds. Nina is the oldest of four, a surfer turned swimsuit model. The main plot follows the storyline of Nina and her three surfer siblings as they prepare for their annual Riva Party - the biggest party in Malibu. Through the glitz and glamour that surrounds the setting of the book, you will connect to the relationships Reid creates. They are intricate and nuanced, steadfast and loyal. Through tragedy and heartbreak, the Riva siblings show us that there is nothing in the world a family “shred” can’t fix.

The Maidens by Alex Michaelides

Summer is for thrills, and Michaelides is a master. This suspense thriller takes place in Cambridge and weaves in ancient Greek tragedies to modern day murders. Marina Andros is a brilliant group therapist who is grieving the death of her husband Sebastian. Through group counseling, she gets in touch with her grief and feels strong enough to comfort her niece Zoe when tragedy strikes. There are twists and turns, everything else you need: murder, strange cult-like groups, references to Euripides, and smug American professors teaching in England. It’s sexy yet sophisticated.

The Guncle by Steven Rowley

“Never love anyone who thinks you're ordinary,” this quote from Oscar Wilde opens the novel. Patrick is a once-famous sitcom star who finds himself the sole guardian of his niece, Maisie and nephew, Grant. So, when tragedy strikes and Maisie and Grant lose their mother, and Patrick’s brother has a health crisis of his own, it’s up to Patrick to take up the role of primary guardian. The Guncle will remind you of The Birdcage, but with children. As you might imagine, taking care of his niece and nephew is a learning experience for all involved, and in the end, Patrick finds that giving in to your heart can often cure the deepest wounds.

The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix

Hendrix is back with the wildest theatrical read you’ll see on the page this year. While blending serious pop culture analysis with a plot that feels like it was made for the big screen, Hendrix is banking on our love for the 80s - especially the horror movie genre. In his newest book, we meet Lynette Tarkington as she continues to deal with the aftermath of being a final girl. Action packed with lots of graphic imagery, it is definitely in the horror genre, but nostalgic and will have you reconsider our consumer culture, especially when it comes to entertainment.