July 15, 2019

Chandler Baker Shares Some Of Her Favorite Beach Reads

The author of “Whisper Network” has five great books by women to add to your TBR pile!

Story By: Chandler Baker

Chandler Baker Shares Some Of Her Favorite Beach Reads

The author of “Whisper Network” has five great books by women to add to your TBR pile! Story By: Chandler Baker

Who plans their vacation packing list around how many books they can fit in their suitcase? That’s right: this girl! I am choosy about my beach reads. I have to be when I spend half my reading time chasing a toddler with a stick of sunscreen and glancing up when told to “watch this” every twelve seconds.

The books have to be juicy, full of twists and with enough substance that I can bug my entire family by asking them if they want to hear what’s happening in the novel I’m reading. (Just me?) Here are some of my favorite books that have found their way into my beach bag each summer…

The Favorite Sister by Jessica Knoll

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If you haven’t read this on an actual beach, I’m willing to say it: you haven’t lived. This mixes reality TV (think: Real Housewives) with new age feminism then tops it with murder.

It’s smart and frothy with gems like these: “The thinking that women of all shapes and sizes can be beautiful is still hugely problematic, because it is predicated on the idea that the most important thing a woman has to offer the world is her appearance. Men are raised to worry about their legacies, not their upper arm and thigh fat, stretch marks, crows-feet, saggy elbows, ugly armpits, thin eyelashes, and normal-smelling genitals.” Would we expect anything less from Jessica Knoll?

Ghosted by Rosie Walsh

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This one is for those who, like me, are always jonesing for another Liane Moriarty book. It’s so modern—a woman gets ghosted by a man she’d fallen head over heels for! And the best part is that it’s got dark twists (genuinely surprised me many times over) and romance in equal measure. A rare combination perfect for beach binge reading.

Watch Me Disappear by Janelle Brown

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I found this to be such a unique read because it marries a number of genres that don’t typically meet. It’s a family drama, a deep study in grief, a mystery and thriller, a wash of teen angst and a touch of—dare I say?—the supernatural.  I raced through this book about a mother who has disappeared on a hike, but the real kicker comes in the last couple of pages. Trust me.

Give Me Your Hand by Megan Abbott

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A thinking woman’s mystery, this one follows two female scientists at the top of their game, vying for a fellowship to study a severe form of PMS. I love a book that trades in secrets and this one does so beautifully.

“You don’t have a self until you have a secret,” one of the characters tells us and I still wrestle with whether or not that’s true. Megan Abbott is one of my all-time favorite mystery writers and this one lends so much for discussion. Bonus points if you can buddy read it on a lounge chair next to your best friend.

You Think It I’ll Say It by Curtis Sittenfeld

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I’ll admit that I’m a recent convert to short story collections and that, in fact, this was the book that showed me the light. All of the stories in the collection are very smart, but also very accessible.

They follow women in various parts of their lives. They’re complicated. They each end with a punch line that makes coming to a stopping point (margarita refill, anyone?) satisfying as opposed to frustrating. Every one of the installments have stuck with me, but keep a special eye out for my favorite stories from the book which are “The Prairie Wife” and “Off the Record”.

Golden hour dreams and rock ‘n’ roll hearts. Now this story seriously sparkles! 🪩 It might just be time for a Daisy Jones & The Six reread!

📷: @readuntilthelastpage
Because we don’t owe anyone likability. We owe ourselves authenticity. ✨

This week on Bookmarked, the Reese's Book Club podcast, our August author @AshleyJordanWrites sits down with @DanielleRobay to chat creating fanfic based on Beyonce's Lemonade, almost giving up on this book, and the power of creating community around writing.

Start listening at the @iHeartPodcast app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you love to listen!
Soaking up the last few days of summer with this truly special book, Spectacular Things! ☀️

"If you enjoy layered family dramas with both heart and grit, this one is worth picking up."

📷+💬: @storiesbytheshoreline
Your favorite authors + online community IRL = Shine Away ☀️📖💞

Our annual #ShineAway event is coming up this October! From powerhouse speakers to an RBC-stocked bookshop, there's something for everyone during this inspiring weekend — and we can't wait to share  with all of you what this year has in store 👀

Early bird pricing ends TODAY! Grab your tickets now at the link in bio 🔗🎟️

Get ready for open conversations, lasting connections, and a whole bunch of bookish joy ✨
Enjoy this peaceful moment in the serene Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, the setting of Once Upon A Time In Dollywood, taking in the day with author @AshleyJordanWrites herself! ✨

Throughout the book, Eve embarks on a journey of healing and self-discovery, ultimately embracing these mantras as truths about herself. 💙
Kicking off the week on a high note by finishing Once Upon A Time In Dollywood and getting ready to hear from @AshleyJordanWrites on the latest episode of Bookmarked, the Reese’s Book Club podcast. 🎧📖

New episode drops tomorrow — and trust us, you won’t want to miss this one. Expect all the feels: romance, stepping out of your comfort zone, and the journey of writing a debut novel. We're calendaring it in! 

Listen tomorrow on the @iHeartPodcast app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you love to listen!
"I hope you will also find that there is reassurance, maybe even a promise, whether you’re coming of age or not: that your anger is righteous and just. That the endurance with which you face the world is admirable. That your vulnerability, your longing to be wanted just as you are, is worthy." — @afarolfollmuth

To girls and women everywhere, we see you. 💙
Welcome to the club, Once Upon a Time in Dollywood. 💙

📷: @therealbookhustler
"You are important and you are powerful. Just as you are, in yourself, standing alone. Don’t let anyone, and especially no man, treat you as anything less."

We're still hung up on this iconic line from Stuck Up and Stupid. A fantastic reminder that you are worthy and certainly not stupid. 🩷
This weekend’s mood: resting, recharging, and rendezvousing with every iconic and authentic version of Cate Kay. 🧖‍♀️✨