Summer 2020 might look different than we all expected, but one thing remains the same, beach read books are back and in my opinion, this year, they're better than ever. At the top of my list is, The Lies that Bind, the latest from Emily Giffin. Emily has always been one of favorite authors. I love her writing style, how real her characters are, and the way she explores complicated matters of the heart. The Lies that Bind is now my favorite of hers to date and is a page-turning love story . . .
A Book Club Discussion Guide For Waiting at Hayden’s
As an author one of my favorite things to do is talk to book clubs. For such a long time I was the only person who knew the characters in Waiting at Hayden's. There were so many times during the writing process where I wished I could talk to someone other than my editor about them. I was dying to discuss the journeys they were on and the choices they were making. It sort of felt like I had all these best friends, but couldn't introduce them to anyone. Now that the book is out in the world, . . .
10 Beach Towns to Visit This Summer That Are Perfect For Beach Reading
Beach reading has always been my favorite summer activity. Come late May and early June stories by all my favorite authors hit shelves and I love throwing them in a beach bag and finding a spot to read them in the sand. This year I'm most excited about Jane Green's latest book, The Friends we Keep, which was just released yesterday. I've been a huge fan of her stories for as long as I can remember. Along with Emily Giffin and Elin Hilderbrand, she was one of the authors that inspired me to . . .
My Favorite Character Looks For Summer From Waiting at Hayden’s
As soon as I finished writing Waiting at Hayden's I couldn't wait to see the story come to life visually! I had such a clear idea in my head of what the characters looked like and also what their homes looked like and even the restaurant where the book primarily takes place. On a creative impulse I hired a videographer to help me create a video trailer for promotion and found actors, styled everything the way I'd imagined it while I was writing, and filmed a short video clip. It was during . . .
My Favorite Beach Reads of All Time
This past week, with my family being in town and lots of evenings after work spent at the beach, I got to read several books in the sand. I’ve been working so much on my next novel, Map of Us, and the future of shopfiction™ that it’s been a while since I’ve gotten to really enjoy the books that made me want to be a writer in the first place. I honestly haven’t felt this great in such a long time and I really do credit the beach reads. I know they are frequently criticized for being too . . .