Here at Harlequin, we take Spring and Summer reading seriously! We’ve been using our extra sunlight hours to read as much as we can to give you some new recs to keep you busy through the summer months. We hope you can find something to add to your TBR!
Emma Cole is reading…
When the Wolf Comes Home, Nat Cassidy: Nat Cassidy has been writing great books for a while, of course, but When the Wolf Comes Home knocks it out of the park. Equal parts terrifying and thrilling, Nat creates a wholly enthralling story that runs headlong into chaos and danger and pulls the reader along with him. The titular wolf is hunting for his son, who has hidden himself away with the help of Jess, a struggling actress who didn’t ask for any of this mess but can’t turn her back on this five-year-old who might be more powerful than he seems. This felt so reminiscent of 80s King, with magical boys, relentless monsters, and an everyday person just trying to stay alive one more day. Really enjoyable, with an underlying poignancy that lingers.
Their Monstrous Hearts, Yigit Turhan: I am very biased because I edited this book, but I think it’s so good. Riccardo, a struggling writer, is pulled into a dark and sinister mystery when his grandmother Perihan dies and he inherits her crumbling estate in Milan. He discovers her diary, which illuminates her life as an immigrant from Turkey and slowly reveals a sinister plot that might have far-reaching consequences for Riccardo himself. It’s gothic and mysterious and the author writes beautiful, lush details to transport readers to the fashionable and opulent world of Perihan and her friends.
Caroline Timmings is reading…
Wild Dark Shore, Charlotte McConaghy: My mom and I decided to do a mini book club read of this story with just the two of us. And it was definitely a good pick. This book follows a family living on a remote island near Antarctica. The descriptions of the island, the surrounding sea, the wildlife… were so visceral, we felt like we were there. The 3 children have known essentially nothing but life on this island and they live their lives ensconced in and embracing the harsh natural wonders that surround them. Their father is the island’s caretaker, and his task is to watch over the world’s largest seed bank. When a woman washes up on shore and things start going wrong (lost power, dwindling resources, a possible murder…) the family is forced to face tragedies from their past and, hopefully, find a way forward. This story gave us a lot to talk about and think on. It poses big questions about family, morality, human constructs, the environment, and so much more.
Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret (Ernest Cunningham #3), Benjamin Stevenson: This was my third adventure with amateur sleuth / novelist Ernest Cunningham and it was so much fun! So far, the second book in the series (Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect) is my favorite, but I really enjoyed this holiday themed book – especially because the stories are set in Australia. It’s very interesting to read about an overwhelmingly hot Christmas when you’re from New York. At a little under 200 pages, it’s a quick read, but still manages to be a really complex and entertaining murder mystery steeped in Ernest’s usual charm. I do recommend reading the series in order to understand the backstory of some major players in this book.
Elena Lodge is reading…
I’ve just finished Beth O’Leary’s latest romance, Swept Away, because apparently spending my weekdays reading romance at Harlequin just isn’t enough!
When Swept Away landed in my Kindle library, I was immediately grateful to my past self for pre-ordering this book. I loved the premise—Zeke and Lexi’s one night together goes horribly wrong when a storm pulls the houseboat out to sea, stranding them in a strange state of proximity and danger.
Beth O’Leary is a reliable romance author for me. I loved The Wake-Up Call and The Flat Share, so I knew this one would tick all the boxes. Still, I was delighted when this not only met my expectations but surpassed them. Underneath the (somewhat) disbelief-suspending ‘stranded at sea’ plot was a heartwarming tale of family and healing. When the stakes were so high—literally life and death at times—the HEA needed to be perfect and I’m not ashamed to admit that the ending was so emotional, I was in tears!
Safiya Tariq is reading…
The Great Empires of Asia (by multiple authors. Edited by Jim Masselos). Asian empires led the world economically, scientifically and culturally for hundreds of years, and posed a constant challenge to the countries of Europe. How and why did those empires gain such power, and lose it? What legacies did they leave?
I will never be able to learn enough about Asian empires. Each of the thousands of emperors/empresses made substantial impressions during their short reigns, leaving me with never-ending wonder. This includes government/military structures, artistic and scientific advancements and especially messy family relationships (I’m looking at you Chinggis Khan). What really interests me about these empires (apart from 15th century palaces with 9000 rooms, WHOA!) are the crucial roles that women played in consolidating an empire’s power. In the Mughal court, empresses were businesswomen responsible for trade and commerce of silks and spices with foreign diplomats. Some even built their own fleets of ships for overseas trading and were incredibly wealthy and politically powerful in their own right! Behind every story of a supreme emperor, was the empress that they consulted for advice.
Natalia Castano is reading…
Babel, R. F. Kuang: I finally picked up this remarkable book at my local library and it didn’t disappoint. Babel is set in Oxford in 1828 and tells the story of Robin Swift, an orphan from Canton who was brought to London by Professor Lovell. Robin studies hard for years preparing to enter the Royal Institute of Translation in Oxford—known as Babel. There, he forms a strong bond with his friends and learns about the dynamics of power, colonization, and oppression, and is faced with a choice between pursuing his love for academia or standing against imperial oppression.
I can’t believe it took me this long to discover this book. I can’t wait for the author’s next title, Katabasis, coming in the summer!
We hope that you’ve found a recommendation or two here and happy reading!
