50 Shades of Summer Reading

   By SheSpeaksTeam  Jun 20, 2012

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Are you dreaming of a cool iced drink by the pool or is it the lure of a brightly colored beach towel next to a shimmering ocean that has you daydreaming?  Well the chances are your image of summer relaxation also includes a book or two.  Do you still enjoy the feel of paper books for your summer page-turner or will you be downloading your reading to a nook, kindle or ipad.

Many women have already read this year's stealthy British blockbuster 50 Shades of Grey, and conversation has now turned to the sequel 50 Shades Darker and the actors that will play the lead characters in the movie.  But if you are looking for a book that will stimulate you in a different way, you are probably in need of some quick recommendations.

Save yourself the last minute grab-a-book in the airport, check out our starter list for the new releases below and add your own suggestions and recommendations in the comments.

If you have read 50 Shades of Grey...Who would you cast in the leading roles of Ana and Christian?

   SPRING FEVER, by Mary Kay Andrews

This is an easy summer read that begins years after a divorce and introduces some strong characters that are not focused on the predictable exes drama but instead the simple realisation of life and relationships.  The book does a great job of bringing you close to their 'reality' in a near and readable story.  Spring Fever was written byMary Kay Andrews who also wrote Summer Rentals.

    GONE GIRL, by Gillian Flynn

This story is dark and enveloping. The characters and the situation are rich and inviting and then the plot takes some wonderful twists where the details of a 5 year marriage suddenly become less and less clear and the plan to find a missing wife reveals some disturbing truths and an unpredictable ending. 

  KISS THE DEAD, by Laurell K. Hamilton

A female U.S. Marshal tracks down a teenage girl that is abducted by vampires.  Her unexpected discovery when she finds the girl is a group of unwilling vampires who don't wish to live the vampire life and serve a master.  The dynamic of the U.S. Marshal and the vampire community creates a great read for those who like Vampire stories.

   FIFTY SHADES DARKER, by E. L. James

The romance of Ana and Christian is continued through the eyes of Ana.  The story is still playful and details the characters in a carefully woven plot and sub plots that bring readers up close and maybe uncomfortable in revealing how Ana and Christian move through their lives together.

  UNBROKEN, by Laura Hillenbrand

From the author of Seabiscuit this is a true and heroic account of a young athlete who worked hard to be a runner in the Berlin Olympics. But Zamperini's destiny changed with World War II when he was forced to keep himself and a pilot alive on a raft for an incredible number of days only to be captured and sent to Japanese War Camp where his fame became a tool for propoganda and Zamperini became a focus for unthinkable tortures. An amazing and inspiring story, well written.

Please share the books that keep you reading this summer!