Happy Fall, fellow book lovers!
This issue, I’m going to review three books that completely captivated my attention over the summer. Two are thrillers and one is a sweet love story. I’m not usually a big romance novel fan, but this book was so lovely and special, that I didn’t want to finish it…I wanted it to last forever.
I’ll start with the love story. One Day in December by Josie Silver (Crown Publishing, 2018), is about Laurie who never believed in love at first sight until she sees a man through a bus window on a snowy December day. She spends a year searching bus stations and cafes throughout London but never sees him again. At a Christmas party, her best friend introduces her new boyfriend to Laurie and it’s him–the man from the bus station. Of course it is! What follows is ten years of friendship, missed chances and heartbreak; but, what a beautiful and moving ten years it is. I adored this novel. It reminded me a bit of some of my other favorite books and movies, but is also totally original and unique.
The next book I chose is There’s Something in the Water by Catherine Steadman (Ballantine Books, 2018). While scuba diving on a romantic honeymoon in Bora Bora, Erin and Mark find a locked duffel bag in the water. What’s in the bag and what they do with it leads the reader on a dark and terrifying ride. It’s a “what’s the worst that could happen?” tale spiked with pure adrenaline. It captivated me immediately and gave me literal chills throughout. I could not put it down and read it in almost one sitting.
My third choice is Force of Nature by Jane Harper (Flatiron Books, 2018). This tale is about a company retreat in the wilderness to teach teamwork and resilience. Five women start the hike and team building exercise but only four make it out. Alice, the missing hiker knew everything about the company, including everyones’ secrets and she has a big one of her own. The traumatized women tell a tale of fear, broken trust and even violence. But, are they telling the truth? And, can they find Alice in the Australian bushland before the elements and animals get to her? Tense, frightening and oh so believable, this novel gave me the creeps in the best way possible.
Those are my must reads for fall–or really anytime. So grab a book, snuggle up on the couch and enjoy the (hopefully) cooler weather.
Ashlea Bushman reads way too many books and spends the rest of her free time at HSTV finding homes for animals.