Friday Reads 7.4.25

Happy Fourth of July!

Happy Friday, friends, and Happy Independence Day! 🇺🇸

I hope everyone is relaxing today, enjoying a good book, a cookout, the beach, or the pool. I will be enjoying the latter later on, after I finish my words, and I’m trying to decide what to start reading. I have a slew of books to choose from—and you know how that is. Sometimes, the pradox of choice bites you in the butt.

Speaking of the paradox of choice… If you didn’t hear the great news, let me sing it from the rafters here. LAST SEEN has been chosen for Amazon’s First Reads Program, which means if you like to read on your Kindle, the book is available NOW, a month early! Free for Prime members, and only $1.99 for non-members. And it’s a double credit month, so you can choose two books — an embarrassment of riches, for sure.

Last year, A VERY BAD THING (which is also on sale this month) was in the AFR program, and it was a rather surreal experience. Having the book come out a month early means I’ve been working hard in the background to get ready. It means the tour is longer, and the chances of you getting sick of me touting my new release are higher. But them’s the breaks, right? It’s an amazing opportunity for my dark little book, and I am so grateful for the response we’ve had this week!

LAST SEEN is a dark book. Though it’s a standalone, it hearkens back to some of my earlier work. It’s a bit twisted and definitely a bit scary. I didn’t necessarily set out to do that, but sometimes, the book becomes its own thing. There is a narrator who, let’s be honest, is a monster, and he really sets the tone. It was fun to write, and I’m sort of longing for the characters, as I got very attached.

A friend and I were discussing this the other day: the power of a story to captivate us, and how, when we’ve finished, we need to walk away, but that world and those people —the world and people we created —still exist. Do they miss us? we wondered. It’s like when we go on vacation and Jordan is here with her pet sitter — she’s not hearing my voice every day, or getting her hugs and rubs. Does she think I’ve abandoned her? Do the characters feel that way, too? Do they miss us when we aren’t there to give them a voice?

On that philosophical note… You’re here for the recs, and I have some! Sort of. My TBR is teetering, so maybe you can help me pick my next read. Here are my contenders. What should go in my pool bag?

The absolute brilliant Lisa Scottoline’s THE UNRAVELING OF JULIA, coming out on the 15th, and is currently on top and leading the pack…

Alafair Burke — THE BETTER SISTER (we started the show and it’s VERY engaging)

Brad Thor — EDGE OF HONOR (the newest Scot Harvath looks to be rather topical)

Megan Miranda — YOU BELONG HERE (Megan and I will be in conversation at Poisoned Pen August 7!)

John Grisham — THE WIDOW (This is John’s upcoming mystery, and I love his work, so it might be hard to beat)

Taylor Jenkins Reid — ATMOSPHERE (I know, I know, I am VERY late to this one. I don’t know what’s holding me back)

Jessa Maxwell — DEAD OF SUMMER (This is a galley, coming the 22nd, and it looks pretty good. Also, great cover)

Rachel Gillig — ONE DARK WINDOW (I am still gaga over KNIGHT AND THE MOTH)

OK, that’s enough to choose from, don’t you think??? Tell me what I should pick.

Also, a final, heartfelt recommendation. My dear friend Kerry Lonsdale suffered an unspeakable tragedy last week, the loss of her son, Evan. Her new book, FALLING FOR YOU AGAIN, releases on Tuesday, and it is her best yet. I’ve already ordered my copy, and I think you’ll love it. Kerry is a fantastic writer; her work touches my soul every time. Get a copy, won’t you?

And with that, I wish you a safe holiday weekend. Would love to hear what you’re reading this weekend, and any recommendations for us!

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