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Best New Books For Summer Reading 2014

Whether you're picnicking in the park, laying out at the beach, or grilling in your backyard, there's something about summer's steaming hot days that make you yearn for a great story. Our sister company Simon & Schuster has got you covered with six smart, entertaining, page turners that will keep you reading all summer long. Watch out – you just might be tempted to devour these in one sitting!

ALL FALL DOWN: A Novel
By Jennifer Weiner

All Fall Down
Photo Courtesy of Simon & Schuster

#1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Weiner is back with her first new novel in two years. Allison Weiss got her happy ending—a handsome husband, adorable daughter, a job she loves, and the big house in the suburbs. But all of this is a façade, and Allison has become increasingly dependent on popping pills to get through the day. With a sparkling comedic touch and a cast of unforgettable characters, this remarkable story of a woman’s slide into addiction and struggle to find her way back up again is Jennifer Weiner’s most masterful work yet.

For Fans Of: In Her Shoes, Good in Bed, or Best Friends Forever

I AM HAVING SO MUCH FUN HERE WITHOUT YOU: A Novel
By Courtney Maum

I Am Having So Much Fun
Photo Courtesy of Simon & Schuster

Set in Paris and London, this reverse love story attempts to answer the question: Is it really possible to fall back in love with your spouse? After being left by his mistress, Richard, a successful artist, embarks on a series of misguided attempts to win back his brilliant French wife while focusing his creative energy on a provocative art piece to prove that he’s still the man she once loved. Balancing biting wit with a deep emotional undercurrent, this is an engrossing portrait of an imperfect family—and a heartfelt exploration of marriage, love, and fidelity.

For Fans Of: Beautiful Ruins, This Is Where I Leave You, or Where’d You Go, Bernadette?

THE ACTRESS: A Novel
By Amy Sohn

The Actress
Photo Courtesy of Simon & Schuster

From bestselling author Amy Sohn comes The Actress, a romantic, literary, page-turner. Maddy Freed has always dreamed of acting, and when she is cast in a film with Hollywood heartthrob Steven Weller, it seems as though her dreams are coming true. It doesn’t take long for their professional relationship to grow personal, and they embark on a whirlwind marriage – despite the rumors that he’s gay. As Maddy stands by the man she loves, she begins to realize that she may just have been cast in the role of a lifetime.

For Fans Of: American Wife or The Next Best Thing

THE POSSIBILITIES: A Novel
By Kaui Hart Hemmings

The Possibilities
Photo Courtesy of Simon & Schuster

In the idyllic ski town of Breckenridge, Colorado, Sarah St. John is reeling. Three months ago, her twenty-two-year-old son died in an avalanche. When a strange girl arrives on her doorstep, she bears a secret that could change both of their lives forever. From the author of The Descendants—the bestselling novel on which the Oscar-winning film starring George Clooney and a pre-Fault in Our Stars Shailene Woodley was adapted—comes this stunning look at people faced with impossible choices in the wake of tragedy.

For Fans Of:The Interestings

TAKE THIS MAN: A Memoir
By Brando Skyhorse

Take This Man
Photo Courtesy of Simon & Schuster

After being abandoned by her husband, Brando Kelly Ulloa’s mother reinvents her and her three-year-old son as Native Americans – thus the life of “Brando Skyhorse,” the son of an incarcerated political activist began. It would be over thirty years before Brando begins to untangle the truth of his own past, when a surprise discovery online leads him to discover his biological father. From an award-winning author, this heartfelt memoir is about a mother determined to give her son everything but the truth, and a son’s search for a father wherever he can find one.

For Fans Of: This Boy’s Life

THE UNEXPECTED WALTZ: A Novel
By Kim Wright

The Unexpected Waltz
Photo Courtesy of Simon & Schuster

From the author of the critically acclaimed debut Love in Mid Air comes this touching novel about the recently widowed Kelly Wilder. Finding that she now has too much time and money on her hands, Kelly rebuilds her life by embracing a new hobby: ballroom dancing. The Unexpected Waltz is a deeply felt story about moving on after loss and finding a new walk—or dance—of life through the power of second chances.

For Fans Of: Jojo Moyes or Marisa de los Santos

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