Reading With Rochelle Weinstein: May Round-Up

June 2, 2023 | By Women Writers Women Books | Reply More

Hello Readers & Friends,

Summer is officially here, and these are the books I’ve been reading as well as two that are going inside my beach bag. Do you have any plans to get away? We’re flying to NYC this Saturday to watch our son run his very first half marathon. Then we’re off to Japan which I’m kind of out about because I DON’T EAT FISH. Send help! I’ll be returning to the column at the end of July so stay tuned for some great reads.

*The Secret Book of Flora Lea, Patti Callahan Henry, Audible

In 1939 London, a woman finds a rare book which might provide the missing pieces to her sister’s earlier disappearance.

What to expect: The power of stories and fairy tales, one woman’s unending determination, and the tightly knit bonds of sisters. An exceptional book.

Available Now

*The Summer of Songbirds, Kristy Woodson Harvey, Paperback ARC

Four women return to the summer camp that bound them for life, setting them on a course for self-discovery and healing.

What to expect: Woodson Harvey’s engaging prose, the warm nostalgia for sleepaway camp, and the childhood bonds that carry us through life’s most touching moments. A beautiful story.

Available July 11, 2023

I Will Find You, Harlan Coben, Audible

A father is in jail for life for the murder of his son, but what happens when he learns his boy just might still be alive?

What to expect: An action-packed, suspenseful thriller. A propulsive mystery which translates well for a mini-series.

Available Now

The Audrey Hepburn Estate, Brenda Janowitz, Paperback

When Emma Jansen learns the Long Island estate where she grew up in is about to be demolished, she returns for one last visit.

What to expect: A storied home with a special connection to Audrey Hepburn, a well-drawn out love triangle, and shocking secrets that could upend them all. Janowitz is a treasured storyteller.

Available Now

Hello Stranger, Katherine Center, NetGalley Audio

A woman experiences facial blindness as the result of a medical procedure and ends up falling in love with two different “faceless” men.

What to expect: An original premise in tackling prosopagnosia. Center’s lively characters come to life on the page. A beautiful message: what it really means to see people…and ourselves.

Available July 11, 2023

The Whispers, Ashley Audrain, NetGalley eBook

Following a tragic accident on their block, neighbors with secrets and stories try to figure out how they might have contributed to a young boy clinging on to life.

What to expect: Another nail-biting, suspenseful tale chock full of mommy angst. Just like The Push, the novel is tautly written, shocking, and utterly unputdownable. Warning: Triggering for anyone who has suffered a miscarriage.

Available June 6, 2023

*The Paris Daughter, Kristin Harmel, NetGalley eBook

War-torn France and the lengths two mothers go to protect their young daughters.

What to expect: Deeply moving and well-researched historical fiction, one women’s inability to move on after tragic loss, and the all-encompassing love of a mother. The novel will stick with you long after the last page.

Available June 6, 2023

On Fire Island, Jane L. Rosen, Paperback

A woman spends her last summer on Fire Island reflecting on the life she created with her widowed husband.

What to expect: A moving story about loss and hope and resiliency. Rosen masterfully crafted a cast of characters with a sprinkle of her signature wit. I especially loved the descriptions of Fire Island—another brilliant character.

Available Now

Dulcinea, Ana Veciana-Suarez, Paperback

A feminist reimagining of Dolca, the fictional muse behind Don Quixote.

What to expect: Meticulously researched and richly woven historical fiction. Readers will be transported, immersing themselves in the Spanish culture and this complex woman. Captivating storytelling.

Available Now

In My Beach Bag

Someone Like You, Meredith Schorr, Paperback ARC

Available July 25, 2023

The Friday Night Club, Sofia Lundberg, Alyson Richman, and M.J. Rose, Paperback

Available Now

If you’ve read this far, guess what? The authors that are astericked are featured in my latest newsletter. Are you signed up? Because if you are and answered the prompt, you can win signed copies of The Secret Book of Flora Lea, The Wedding Veil, and The Book of Lost Names as well as Mary Alice Monroe’s The Beach House and Mary Kay Andrews’ Hello, Summer. That’s FIVE FREE AMAZING BOOKS! Ahem. Not to mention a free eBook copy of my first novel, What We Leave Behind. Here’s the link to subscribe. That should get you through June and July! US only. Winners chosen June 6, 2023.

Enjoy!

Rochelle

Rochelle B. Weinstein is the USA Today and Amazon bestselling author of six women’s fiction novels. Rochelle spent her early years, always with a book in hand, raised by the likes of Sidney Sheldon and Judy Blume. A former entertainment industry executive, she splits her time between sunny South Florida and the mountains of North Carolina. When she’s not writing, Rochelle can be found on NBC 6 in the Mix sharing book recommendations, teaching workshops at Nova Southeastern University, hiking, reading, and finding the world’s best nachos. Her seventh novel, What You Do Me, releases October 2023. Please visit her on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or subscribe to her newsletter at www.rochelleweinstein.com.