20 Guilty-Pleasure Summer Reads
Escape the summertime grind with these juicy page-turners!
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Incomplete Love by Coco J. - A juicy book can transport you further than any airplane ever could, placing you in the shoes of everyone from amateur sleuths to supernatural teenagers. Escape from the summertime grind with these hand-picked page-turners. By Patrice Peck Missing the scandalous love triangle between Cookie, Lucious and Anika on Empire? Until the hit show's fall return, hold yourself over with Incomplete Love. The story centers on a hip hop star torn between a pregnant, former lover and his wife-to-be. Can you say drama?(Photo: Sullivan Producrtions)
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Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari - Love, relationships and all that comes with them are comedic gold. Just ask funnyman Aziz Ansari. For his latest book, he teams up with New York University sociologist Eric Klinenberg to analyze the impact technology has had on our romantic lives and give readers "an unforgettable tour of our new romantic world."(Photo: Penguin Books)
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Pleasantville by Attica Locke - Environmental lawyer Jay Porter, hero of Attica Locke’s bestseller, Black Water Rising, is back to fight one last case in this sophisticated political thriller. You've got a missing persons' case, a murder trial and a corrupt electoral process. Jay certainly has his work cut out for him in this sequel.(Photo: Harper)
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My Paris Dream by Kate Betts - Fashionistas enamored with all-things Paris will fall head over heels for this memoir from former Vogue and Harper's Bazaar editor Kate Betts. Learn how a young American girl climbed the slippery ranks in fashion journalism, all while navigating a new foreign culture and social life.(Photo: Spiegel and Grau)
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Disclaimer by Renee Knight - This fictitious psychological thriller follows Catherine Ravenscroft, a documentary filmmaker whose past starts to catch up with her after she discovers a mysterious novel at her bedside. The creepy part? The novel tells the story of the fateful day Catherine became hostage to a dark secret — and the only other person who knew about the secret is dead!(Photo: Harper)
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6 / 20
The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts by Gary D. Chapman - Has the love between you and your honey hit a plateau? The 5 Love Languages uses real-life stories coupled with perceptive insight to help readers learn how to express love in their spouse's language. With over 10 million copies sold, this book must be on to something, amirite?(Photo: Northfield Publishig)
7 / 20
The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan - The British monarchy has always been the source of inspiration for guilty pleasure books, TV shows and films. And The Royal We is no exception. If you loved fawning over the details of the last buzzed-about royal wedding, then relive that again as you read about the wedding of the century between an unlikely American and Great Britain's future king.(Photo: Grand Central Publishing)
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Finders Keepers: A Novel by Stephen King - Master of contemporary horror, suspense, science fiction and fantasy, author Stephen King needs no introduction. Just know that his latest novel is basically like Misery 2.0, where a fanatical reader takes his obsession with a reclusive writer waaay too far.(Photo: Scribner)
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After the Dance by Jan Gaye, David Ritz - Looking for a glimpse into the life of a creative, yet tortured genius? In After the Dance, the life and death of legendary soul icon Marvin Gaye is explored from the perspective of his second ex-wife, Jan Gaye, with whom he began an extramarital affair with during her teenage years. "I couldn't help but wonder if he was running from himself," Jan wrote. "Even though I remained in awe of his talent, I had seen that his insecurities, hidden under a veneer of cool, were potent."(Photo: Harper Collins)
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The Mindfulness Coloring Book: Anti-Stress Art Therapy for Busy People by Emma Farrarons - Have you heard of mindful coloring? It's when thoughtful meditation meets an adult coloring book. Color your way to a peace of mind as you fill in flowers, leaves, butterflies and birds alongside other kaleidoscopic designs. Whether you're on your way to work or lounging poolside, bring along the perfectly sized book to refresh and reset.(Photo: The Experiment, CLR Editions)
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11 / 20
Oh! You Pretty Things by Shanna Mahin - Wanna be on top? Third-generation Hollywood resident Jess Dunne does. So, after mustering up all she's got, she impressively upgrades her career from barista to personal celebrity assistant. From that point on, she does whatever she can to achieve star status, jeopardizing all her relationships in the process.(Photo: Dutton Publishers)
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The Knockoff by Lucy Sykes and Jo Piazza - It's a battle for the ages in this wickedly funny novel about fashion in the digital age. On one side of the ring we've got Imogen Tate, editor-in-chief of Glossy magazine. On the other side, we've got Eve Morton, Tate's 20-something former assistant who's plotting to take the number-one spot and turn the lavish print publication into a mobile app. May the best fashionista win!(Photo: Doubleday)
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Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves - Wild young-adult books like Twilight and The Hunger Games have captured the attention of both teenagers and adults worldwide. Bleeding Violet comes from the same supernatural YA genre and features an unconventional biracial heroine.(Photo: Simon Pulse)
Photo By Photo: Simon Pulse
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The Next Best Thing by Jennifer Weiner - What really goes on behind the scenes of a hit sitcom? That's what The Next Best Thing reveals through the lens of Ruth Saunders, a fictitious 29-year-old screenwriter whose show gets the green light after six years spent paying her dues. Her lifelong dreams are immediately eclipsed by demanding actors, number-crunching execs, her helpless crush on her boss and much more. Get ready to board the Hollywood show business roller coaster!(Photo: Washington Square Press)
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Liar by Justine Larbalestier - The unreliable narrator, a classic narrative trope, takes center stage in Justine Larbalestier's young adult novel Liar. So make sure to keep in mind that the main character, Micah, is a compulsive liar and be prepared to grasp for the truth until the very last page.(Photo: Bloomsbury USA Childrens)
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