Thrills & Chills: 10 Fun Summer Reads by TIFA Authors
Summer has finally arrived! Time to stretch out on a towel at a sunny beach, or curl up on a picnic blanket in a shady park, and dive into a new book. We’ve revisited some of our most fun authors from recent events and festivals to build you the perfect summer reading list. From thrilling mysteries that will keep you flipping pages until the very last twist, to fun-loving romances that will leave your heart as warm as a July afternoon, check out these TIFA summer reads.
This Weekend Doesn’t End Well for Anyone by Catherine Mack
Eleanor Dash finally has a ticket to a relaxing weekend - an all-inclusive resort at the Bahamas where she’s speaking at a conference for murder mystery writers- but she arrives only to find a body on the floor of her hotel room. Because of course she does. Surrounded by mystery writers who know all too well the many ways to craft the perfect crime, Eleanor is determined to get to the bottom of this mystery - and get out of this weekend alive.
All At Sea by Jonathan Whitelaw
Once an action movie star, Howie Temple now lives off a crumbling reputation. On his way to film a new reality TV show, which casts a team of c-list celebrities as crew aboard a luxury yacht, he meets fellow contestant, influencer-of-the-moment Cassandra Troy. The duo take an immediate dislike to each other. After a hectic first day of filming, the pair are shocked to discover that the captain of the ship has been murdered – and the show’s ever-opportunistic director insists upon keeping the cameras rolling. Will the show make Howie and Cassandra bigger stars than they could ever dream of? And can they crack the case before the killer strikes again, or will they go down with this sinking ship?
We Would Never Tell by Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau
Gowns. Champagne. Murder. Hollywood, but make it French, for twelve days straight, as the red carpet rolls out to the riviera for the Cannes Film Festival. For three young, ambitious women who can’t seem to climb up from the bottom rung of the Hollywood ladder, VIP invitations seem so hard to come by, and the A-list so far away. It’s enough to make them snap and do things they might—or definitely will—regret. It’s a good thing they’re invisible… until a multi-million-dollar necklace vanishes and a dead body is found floating in the Mediterranean Sea. Then, the heat of the spotlight turns up so hot that they have nowhere to hide. Now their biggest dreams are even further out of reach. Or can you get away with theft and murder if you want it badly enough?
Agnes Sharp and the Wedding to Die For by Leonie Swann
Spring is in the air, and the octogenarian housemates at Sunset Hall are abuzz with anticipation of their friend Bernadette’s upcoming nuptials. But not everyone feels celebratory - namely, Bernadette’s best friend, Agnes Sharp, who doesn’t want her to leave Sunset Hall behind. Nevertheless, the not-so-sprightly gang of pensioners launch into wedding-planning mode. Just when they think they have the guest list squared away, a threatening note appears at the house…will Bernadette and Jack happily ride off into the sunset together, or will this be sundown for the Sunset Hall for good?
The Last Mandarin by Louise Penny & Mellissa Fung
Alice Li, a first-generation Chinese American and former food blogger, has long lived in the shadow of her mother, Vivien Li – a Tiananmen Square dissident turned world-renowned human rights activist and passionate advocate for a free and democratic China. In this fast-paced, all-too real thriller, mother and daughter must join together to overcome their estrangement if they have any hope of preventing a global catastrophe. From DC to Ohio to Hong Kong, they work to prevent an attack, along the way decoding an ancient legend and uncovering a secret language invented by women, for women. In a world ruled by power, even family can be a weapon.
Into The Woods by Jenny Holiday
Summer camp heats up for a grumpy rockstar and a cynical dance instructor in this funny and heartwarming enemies-to-lovers romance. Gretchen Miller leaps at the offer to be the summer dance instructor at Camp Wild Arts, but every forest has pests—and the biggest one at Wild Arts is none other than Tennyson “Teddy” Knight, Gretchen’s fellow artist-in-residence. Teddy’s grouchier than a black bear in spring, yet before she knows it, Gretchen finds herself sneaking around to have one last summer fling with the broody musician before she swears off men for good. But as they grow closer, Gretchen has to figure out if she’s ready to take this summer camp romance out of the woods and into real life.
Not Safe for Work by Nisha J. Tuli
Teetering on the edge of burnout, engineer Trishara Malik is stunned when she’s picked to attend her company’s corporate leadership retreat in Hawaii. It’s a chance to revive her stalled career and compete for a coveted spot in an executive training program - plus, three weeks in paradise! The only downside? The boss’s son, Rafe, is her co-attendee, and a booking error has them stuck sharing the Honeymoon suite. After years of competition between the two, they can barely stand to be in the same time zone. Yet, as they vie against each other during team-building exercises, Tris begins to realize Rafe might not be the villain after all.
The Book Tour by Emily Ohanjanians
Despite her popular podcast and sold-out speaking events, Ana Movilian still feels like she has to prove herself. Happily, her upcoming book tour is the perfect chance to show the world just how bright her star can shine. That is, until her beloved publicist resigns the night before their plane is set to take off. Her replacement? Ryan Grant, who specializes in highbrow nonfiction, and whose perma-scowl in every interaction with Ana makes one thing clear: he does not get her book. As they travel from city to city, however, Ana’s assumptions about Ryan take new, decidedly more appealing shape. Soon, their growing attraction feels like a ticking time bomb. But crossing that line could derail each of their careers, and they both have bigger dreams at stake than the bestseller list.
Only Because It’s You by Rebecca Fisseha
Miz is not the marrying kind. She’s more of the no-strings-attached kind. No labels, only fun. Kal is one of Miz’s best friends, an aspiring actor who moved to Toronto from Ethiopia and is on the brink of his big break. But when he’s suddenly at risk of having to return home and leave Toronto forever, Miz panics. There’s only one solution. Miz will marry Kal to become his spousal sponsor. He’ll get to keep pursuing his acting career and she’ll get to keep her best friend in the city. It’ll be a quick, only-on-paper marriage between friends, followed by a quick, easy divorce. Nothing will change, and life will go back to normal. Right?
The Midnight Train by Matt Haig
Journey into this magical, time-traveling love story, from the world of Matt Haig’s bestselling The Midnight Library. When your life flashes before your eyes, where would you stop? No one can change the past, but the Midnight Train can take you there. The chance to re-live the moments that meant most. To see what kind of person you really were. For Wilbur, his best days were with Maggie, the love of his life. On his honeymoon in Venice. Before he gave it all away. He wishes he could go back and live differently. But to do so risks everything…