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The Top 6 Summer Reading Recommendations of 2021

June 24, 2021 by Joy the Baker 23 Comments

books on a bench with framed art above

Hello friends! 

I’ve gotten a month into these thick summer days without one of my very favorite summer activities: relaxing with a juicy beach read under an umbrella with a spritz. I looked up from my Christmas-in-June haze and realized that I don’t even know what beach read I’m reaching for! 

Thank goodness for you. Your suggestions on Instagram were key – and so many of you suggested the same six books.  I’m glad y’all are on the same page. I trust you. 

I have yet to read any of these titles but I’m headed to the bookstore this week to pick up, well, all of them.  Gosh remember summer reading lists in junior high and high school? Did.Not.Enjoy.  This level of scandalous, twisty turny, humorous reading is what I can get into this summer.  If you have any additions to this category, I’d love to see them in the comments below.  

•  Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Four famous siblings throw an epic party to celebrate the end of the summer. But over the course of twenty-four hours, their lives will change forever.  Here at Bookshop.org and  here on Amazon. 

•  Scruples by Judith Krantz

Published in 1989 – Scruples is the novel that created publishing history, the first-and widely  acknowledged to be the very best-novel ever written  about the staggeringly luxurious life of a Beverly  Hills boutique and the people who work in it.  Here on Indiebound and here on Amazon. 

•  While We Were Dating the forthcoming book by Jasmine Guillory

Two people realize that it’s no longer an act when they veer off-script in this sizzling romantic comedy. Here on Indiebound and here on Amazon. 

•  Outlawed by Anna North

The Crucible meets True Grit in this riveting adventure story of a fugitive girl, a mysterious gang of robbers, and their dangerous mission to transform the Wild West. Here on Parnassus and here on Amazon. 

•  Beach Read and People We Meet On Vacation by Emily Henrry

Beach Read: A romance writer who no longer believes in love and a literary writer stuck in a rut engage in a summer-long challenge that may just upend everything they believe about happily ever afters. Here on Barnes and Noble and here on Amazon. 

People We Meet on Vacation: Two best friends. Ten summer trips. One last chance to fall in love. Here on Garden District Bookstore and here on Amazon. 

•  The Hunting Wives by May Cobb

The Hunting Wives share more than target practice, martinis, and bad behavior in this novel of obsession, seduction, and murder. Here on Indiebound and here on Amazon. 

I hope you found a book or two to add to your list. 

Happy Summer, friends! xo 

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  1. Laura

    June 27, 2021 at 6:12 pm

    Oh my goodness Outlawed was so so good. The perfect summer read, I devoured it in two days, sitting in the sun on my deck drinking iced coffee. I guess I’ll have to pick up another one for a beach day next weekend.

    Reply
  2. Shila Soni

    June 27, 2021 at 4:49 pm

    Joy, you don’t know how much I needed this post. Thank you so much for sharing these juicy summer reads. I’m going to start with People we Meet on Vacation and work my way through.

    Reply
  3. Anna

    June 26, 2021 at 8:38 am

    I will also recommend the Daevabad Trilogy (starting with City of Brass). Fantasy, love, destinty… Game of Thrones feel but with much less gore, all set in a Middle Eastern world.

    Reply
  4. Nikki

    June 26, 2021 at 7:58 am

    I am reading People We Meet on Vacation now while I am waiting for my copy of Malibu Rising to arrive next week. I read Outlawed in three days it was that good. Another great beach read is One To Watch by Kate Staymann-London. A reality tv I spired novel featuring a plus size protagonist- loved it! And of course, a culinary mystery, Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala. Enjoy!

    Reply
  5. Rebekah Flanders

    June 25, 2021 at 11:49 am

    Fiction
    – Jurassic Park is fantastic! Super well written 10/10 recommend listening to it on audible.
    – Wonder by R.J. Palacio is such a sweet and heartwarming book
    – Anything by Llyod Alexander (my Dad is a huge reader and this was always his favorite author)
    – The Horse and His Boy by C. S. Lewis
    – Okay hear me out… Lord of the Rings. I couldn’t get through it on paper but when I put it on audible I was hooked. I didn’t expect to cry so hard or relate so much but that’s Tolkien for ya. Very great series with some amazing lines if you can get past the boring//detailed bits here and there.

    Non-fiction
    – Captivate by Vanessa Van Edwards was fascinating
    – The Coddling of the American Mind was pretty interesting
    – Another Gospel by Alisa Childress was one of the best books I’ve read in a long time.

    Reply
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These Almond Flour Banana Bread cookies are stacked with walnuts and chocolate and one of the best way I know how to celebrate a speckled banana. Find the recipe linked in the profile! xo #bananabread #glutenfreerecipes #joythebaker #cookies #bakingrecipes
Just tryna get the most cheese on my most simple s Just tryna get the most cheese on my most simple small-batch bagel recipe. Get in on this with me: ⁣
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2 Easy No Yeast Bagels⁣
1/2 cup self-rising flour⁣
4 tablespoons greek yogurt (plus a teaspoon or two more if needed)
1 large egg, beaten for egg wash⁣
1/3 - 1/2 cup grated gouda or gruyere⁣
Everything bagel seasoning⁣
3 tablespoons baking soda with 2 cups of boiling water. ⁣
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Place a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat oven to 375 degrees F.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spray the paper lightly with nonstick spray. ⁣
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In a small bowl, use a firm spatula to work together the flour and yogurt. Add a few teaspoons of yogurt if it feels dry and knead into a cohesive ball for 5 minutes or so. Sprinkle with a bit more flour if it gets overly sticky. Cover with a damp paper towel and gather your toppings. ⁣
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Divide dough in two and roll each piece into a roughly 8-inch rope. Bring the ends around and pinch into a circle. ⁣
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Sprinkle the bottom of the prepared pan with grated cheese in two spots.  Pour boiling water over the baking soda and float each bagel in the water for 20 or so seconds.  Use a slotted spot or spatula to transfer the bagels on top of the cheese.  Brush lightly with egg. Sprinkle with more cheese and everything bagel seasoning. ⁣
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Bake for 20 - 22 minutes until deeply golden and bubbling.  Allow to cool for 10 minutes before slicing and smearing with cream cheese.
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• 3/4 cup lukewarm milk⁣⁣⁣
• 1 large egg⁣⁣⁣
• 1 large egg yolk⁣⁣⁣
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened⁣⁣⁣
• 3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting⁣⁣⁣
• 2 ¼ teaspoons instant yeast⁣⁣⁣
• 2 tablespoons light brown sugar⁣⁣⁣
• ¾ teaspoon salt⁣⁣⁣
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract⁣⁣⁣
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For the filling:⁣⁣
• 1/3 cup unsalted butter, softened⁣⁣⁣
• 1 cup brown sugar, packed⁣⁣⁣
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon⁣⁣⁣
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For the icing:⁣⁣
• 4 ounces softened cream cheese⁣⁣⁣
• 1 cup confectioners’ sugar or glazing sugar⁣⁣⁣
• 1 tablespoon milk⁣⁣⁣
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1. To make the dough, place all of the dough ingredients in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. Mix on low until the dough begins to come together. You may want to speed up the process by first mixing all of the ingredients together by hand with a spatula before putting the bowl on the stand mixer. This will help the dough hook work. The dough will come together into a soft, though not too sticky dough ball after several minutes of hand mixing and stand mixer mixing.⁣⁣⁣
2. Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl and lightly dust the top of the dough with flour. Let rise for 60 minutes while you prepare the filling and icing.⁣⁣⁣
3. To make the filling: Combine the butter, brown sugar, and ground cinnamon into a paste. Set aside.⁣⁣⁣
4. To make icing, whisk together cream cheese and sugar. Add the milk and whisk until smooth.  Place in a small bowl and refrigerate. ⁣⁣⁣
5. Roll the dough into a 18 x 12 inch rectangle.⁣⁣⁣
6. Spread the cinnamon filling evenly over the dough.⁣⁣⁣
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9.  Drizzle icing over the warm buns and enjoy! ⁣
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