The Bookmark: Summer reading suggestions and more
By SUSAN CRUTCHFIELD, Newnan Carnegie Library Director
Summer is peeking around the corner which is so exciting. Whether you are at the beach or on your front porch a good book is the best way to celebrate summer!
I have a few book recommendations for the summer:
One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune. This is a perfect summer book as you can tell by the title! This is the second title in the Barry Bay’s series. It was nice to revisit some of the characters from Every Summer After. This book focuses on Charlie and Alice. Alice spends the summer in Barry’s Bay with her grandmother who is recovering from a fall. Alice took a photo of Charlie when they were teens that became very well-known but the two have never met until now. This is a story of a summer at the lake, family, and romance.
Retreat by Krysten Ritter. This is a suspenseful thriller set in a Mexican villa. Liz is a con artist, and she has found not only the perfect con but a great opportunity to spend time in a fabulous location. However, Liz might have jumped into a situation without all the information. This was a twisty and delightful thriller about wealthy people and a main character who is bold and forges ahead into situations without thinking them through.
The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick. This was a wonderful historical fiction book. It follows a group of four women as they struggle with marriage, family, and navigating the complex time of the 1960s. I couldn’t put this book down. It was so beautifully written and compelling.
The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits by Jennifer Weiner. This book is about two estranged sisters who used to be famous musicians, The Griffin Sisters. The story was really fascinating and told from multiple points of view and timelines. This was a story of complicated family issues, music and forgiveness.
Another exciting thing about summer is the children and teen summer programs at the Carnegie. These programs are fully funded by the Newnan Carnegie Library Foundation and Newnan Kiwanis Club. We are excited to welcome back Beatin’ Path Percussion, Zoo Pro Adventures, Dr. Donald White, and Barry Mitchell. New performers and programs this year will include Christy Johns, Newnan Theatre Company improv, Brian Robert Magic, painting, and STEM. You can see the complete summer schedule on our website at www.newnancarnegie.com/summer-programs.
Mayor Keith Brady’s Summer Reading Challenge returns in 2025! We will have reading challenge logs available online and at the Carnegie. The challenge will culminate on July 26th for the Mayor’s End of Summer Reading Celebration.
Summer is a fantastic time to visit the library whether you are looking for books or programs.
Any of our librarians are happy to give you book recommendations to keep your bookshelves full during the summer. We hope to see you soon!
Susan Crutchfield is the director of the Newnan Carnegie Library in historic downtown Newnan. She also is a professional photographer and enjoys volunteering with the Newnan ArtRez and the Newnan Theatre Company.
