As Memorial Day weekend approaches, what better way to relax and celebrate the occasion than with a captivating book? Whether you are taking a nice vacation, relaxing in your backyard, or just curled up in bed, these books are the perfect Memorial Day companions. From heart-throbbing romances that will sweep you off your feet, to sweet and sincere coming-of-age stories, to gripping thrillers, there’s something for every reader on this roundup of 15 amazing Memorial Day weekend reads.
The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren
Anna Green only married Liam “West” Weston for access to affordable college housing and when graduation was over she thought she signed the divorce papers, assuming that the two would never meet again. But, years later, when West finds out that he needs to be married for five years to get his one-hundred-million-dollar inheritance, he reaches back out to Anna. The two discover that they never officially divorced, but things take a bad turn when West introduces Anna to his snobby parents. Can West manage to gain his inheritance and remain on speaking terms while keeping his foul-mouthed true love, or will he lose her in pursuit of riches?
Just For The Summer by Abby Jimenez
Justin has a love curse and, thanks to a viral social media post, practically everyone on the internet knows. After every breakup, his ex-girlfriends immediately find the love of their lives, leaving him all alone. But when another woman reaches out telling Justin that she has the same curse, they cook up a plan to date and break up. Emma is a traveling nurse, assigned to move to Minnesota where she and her best friend agree that dating Justin is a great idea. But when feelings start to grow and complications arise, the summer fling might turn into something deeper that neither of them ever anticipated.
The Guncle Abroad by Steven Rowley
After relocating to New York to revive his acting career, Patrick O’Hara is finding himself facing new challenges as he is now single again, after his breakup with Emory, and navigating his role as uncle to his niece and nephew, Maisie and Grant. When his brother announces that he is getting married again, Patrick takes the opportunity to try to reconnect with his family. But through the wedding preparations and family drama, Patrick must guide Maisie and Grant through the feelings of loss and love, while grappling with his own longing heart and the start of his new love story.
Under The Palms by Kaira Rouda
In this thrilling second novel in The Kingsleys series, USA Today bestselling author Kaira Rouda delivers a story not soon forgotten. Now under Paige’s new leadership, the Kingsley family gathers for a Laguna Beach retreat. Amidst the power struggles for succession between Richard’s sons John and Ted, Paige must find allies. When Richard’s ex and wayward daughter join the power battle, Paige finds herself two new allies who know secrets that could tear the family legacy apart. As the weekend getaway unfolds, the family faces threats from within and without, building an atmosphere of danger and distrust that leaves no Kingsley secure.
How To End A Love Story by Yulin Kuang
Helen Zhang and Grant Shepard have not seen each other in thirteen years since the tragic accident that tethered them forever. Now, finally moving on with her life and finding herself, Helen is a bestselling author with a seat in the writer’s room for the upcoming adaptation of one of her novels. Grant is just trying to forget the past and do what he does best, write. Taking a screenwriting job, he moves across the country to LA, taking a seat in the same writing room as Helen. They are each exactly as each other remembers, and as the two get to know each other once again, sparks begin to fly. But as secrets are revealed and the past resurfaces, the two of them must make peace or lose their love.
The Grandest Garden by Gina L. Carroll
Bella Fontaine, a recent college graduate, ventures from Los Angeles to New York City to start anew as an artist. But when her past and childhood come back to haunt her, both Bella and the readers are thrown back to just after Bella’s tenth birthday. The sanctuary of her two grandmothers, Olivette and Miriam’s, gardens become a center point of the story, as Bella’s homelife begins to unravel. As familial bonds begin to shift and Bella feels outcast, she is pushed into a premature adulthood, embarking on a coming-of-age journey that teaches the readers what it means to navigate broken ties and find one’s place in the world.
Missing White Woman by Kellye Garrett
Full of foul play and racial themes, Kellye Garrett spins a thrilling murder mystery story that will keep readers turning the page non-stop. Breanna and her boyfriend, Ty, were just supposed to have a romantic trip to New York City. But when Breanna wakes up on the final morning of the trip she finds a dead woman on the floor and no Ty. That dead woman happens to be none other than Janelle Beckett, the missing woman who has gone viral on the internet. As a Black woman alone in a new city, Breanna has no other choice than to find out what happened that night, to save herself and Ty.
Real Americans by Rachel Khong
This New York Times bestselling novel has swept people off their feet since its release in April, taking readers on a journey of race, family, and forgiveness. It’s the year 2000 when Lily Chen, an unpaid intern, meets Matthew, the heir to a wealthy pharmaceutical company. The two polar opposites, despite all odds, fall in love. But now, in the year 2021, Nick Chen feels alone and desperate in a place where he does not belong. He knows that his single mother, Lily, is hiding something and he will do whatever it takes to find the truth. But when Nick sets out to find his father he may find more questions than answers and that some mysteries should remain unsolved.
The Ministry Of Time by Kaliane Bradley
In a near-future setting, a civil servant is offered her dream salary and assigned to a project involving time travel. She is assigned to monitor Commander Graham Gore, an expat from 1847 who has no idea what is going on. As her assignment continues the relationship between her and Graham deepens, causing problems when the Ministry’s real motives become clear. As she falls even deeper in love with Graham, she must confront the question of whether their actions can alter the course of history. Kaliane Bradley writes of love, choice, and the impact of change in this science fiction romance.
Anna Bright Is Hiding Something by Susie Orman Schnall
Set to release on June 4, 2024, Anna Bright is Hiding Something is set in the world of Silicon Valley startups and New York media. Anna Bright, the head of a multibillion-dollar company, is committing fraud and no one knows. Not her company, not investors, and not even the media. But when journalist Jamie Roman finds out what is going on, she is determined to uncover the truth and expose Anna, setting off a high stakes battle between the two women. As Jamie dives deeper into Anna’s deception, Anna becomes increasingly desperate to thwart her. This is the perfect pre-order for those looking to read about powerful women and tantalizing scandals.
One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware
Perfect for fans of the show Love Island and readers of Agatha Christie, One Perfect Couple centers around Lyla, whose life takes a dramatic turn when she and her boyfriend, Nico, star in a reality television series called One Perfect Couple. Stuck on a deserted island, Lyla and Nico compete against other couples for a cash prize. But when a storm strands the contestants on the island, the once paradise turns into a nightmare. With dwindling resources and rising tension among the contestants, Ruth Ware delivers a captivating psychological thriller that will keep readers immersed from beginning to end.
Lovers And Liars by Amanda Eyre Ward
The Peacock sisters, Sylvie, Cleo, and Emma have complicated relationships that are full of secrets and deceit. As Sylvie prepares to marry Simon Rampling, a wealthy man from Northern England, Cleo grows suspicious of Simon’s intentions and heads to Mumberton Castle to investigate. Meanwhile, Emma is struggling to maintain her family's dignity amidst a financial crisis that has struck them. But when their toxic mother emerges, the three sisters must confront their past and forge a new life for themselves. Set against the backdrop of a dramatic weekend at a sprawling castle estate, Amanda Eyre Ward weaves a tale of family and forgiveness.
California Dreaming by Noa Silver
Elena Berg has always been inspired by her father’s legacy, leading her to move to the Bay Area to teach English. But when Elena finds herself struggling to connect with her underprivileged students, she begins to question her career choice. Transitioning to an education technology startup company and coming of age, Elena grapples with her own identity amidst the Occupy and #MeToo movements and California’s environmental crisis. Elena will have to learn that the California she dreamed of is not reality and that her dream of her future might not be reality either.
Long After We Are Gone by Terah Shelton Harris
Upon hearing the dying words of their father instructing them to protect the house, the Solomon siblings return home to their ancestral land in North Carolina. But as the siblings fight to save the Kingdom from a development company, set on turning the property into a luxury resort, they must also fight to keep their secrets. Junior, the eldest son, is secretly in love with a man, despite his marriage to his wife of eleven years. Mance is in and out of prison, while Cece is an embezzling lawyer. And amidst all of these older siblings, Tokey wonders why she does not fit into her family. Told from multiple points of view, this novel will take you on a journey of siblinghood and the burden of a family legacy.
Shanghailanders by Juli Min
Shanghailanders traces the lives of the Yang family, starting in 2040 and moving backward through time, this novel is about uncovering their struggles and secrets across many generations. Through Leo Yan’s train journey back to Shanghai to his daughters’ diverging paths that lead them to Boston and Paris, Juli Min spins a story of enduring family ties even through societal and environmental change. If you are looking for a novel that explores the ideas of loss, love, and the complexities of human relationships, Shanghailanders will keep you hooked from the first to the last page.
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