Harper Collins recently asked their Twitter followers to describe the perfect beach read and the answers surprised me. I assumed the suggestions would be for romantic comedies and women’s fiction, and while they were among the suggestions, there were just as many mentions of thrillers, crime stories, tales of friendship and coming-of-age stories. There were as many fantasies and science fiction books as there were contemporary and historical fiction books.
Readers simply wanted a great story; the genre was secondary.
And so this month, I ignored genre and picked a book that I thought might be a relaxing and fun read for the beach, the cottage, or anywhere else you go to unwind.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, by V. E. Schwab, is an incarnation of the crowd-pleasing Faust myth. This storyline never gets old!
This is a novel that lends itself to a leisurely read. If you prefer action-packed stories, you might find the beginning a bit slow because Addie doesn’t meet Henry until the 25th chapter. If you stick with the book to the end (and I hope you do), you’ll discover why there’s such a long lead in. However, if you’re swinging in a hammock listening to the birch leaves rustling overhead, the beautiful line writing and long vivid descriptions will be right up your alley.
Audiobook Review
The audiobook is narrated by the incredibly talented Julia Whelan. If you like listening to stories, be sure to give this one a try. Julia narrates many of today’s bestselling stories, so if you like her work, you’re in luck!
