Whether you’re lounging on the beach or in a ski lodge, chances are you’re wondering what book is worth your coveted Spring Break relaxation time.
Have no fear! I’m here to make sure your Spring Break reading is just as good as the break itself. Here are five books worth reading during Spring Break.
Find Her
When Flora Dane goes missing for the second time in a dozen years, Detective D.D. Warren knows she must find her quickly. Flora originally was kidnapped as a college student on Spring Break (Yes, I see the irony in recommending this book now.) and held captive for 472 days. After her rescue, Flora seems obsessed with finding other missing girls. It’s the obsession that may have gotten her kidnapped again. Now Detective Warren realizes she must find Flora before it’s too late.
Find Her by Lisa Gardner is a page turner with vivid description and a unique plot. The book isn’t for someone who doesn’t like a descriptive mystery, but, if you do, you’ll love this one.
A Mother’s Reckoning: Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy
We never want our children to suffer, but how do you come to terms with it when your child is the one who causes the suffering? Even more, how do you cope with never having seen it coming.
Sue Klebold writes about these issues in A Mother’s Reckoning: Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy. In case you don’t recognize the name, Sue is the mother of Dylan Klebold. Dylan and his friend, Eric Harris, killed 12 students and a teacher and wounded 24 others before killing themselves on April 20, 1999 at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo. Columbine was the first mass school shooting and remain the worst on record.
Sue writes candidly about her grief, what she thinks about her son’s crimes and what she now knows she missed. I certainly don’t agree with everything Sue wrote in the book, but I feel compassion toward her for having written it and I am forever grateful that it’s not my story to tell.
The Widow
How much did she know? That is the question everyone is asking about Jean Taylor.
Jean’s husband died last week, but not before being accused of a terrible crime.
Now that he’s dead, will Jean feel able to tell the truth. Does she know what happened to a missing little girl?
The Widow by Fiona Barton is an interesting whodunnit. That Jean Taylor is one weird, sad, flaky character.
Before I Go to Sleep
Before I Go to Sleep by S.J. Watson is the story of Christine, a woman who suffered from head trauma and loses all of her memories each time she goes to sleep. Christine wakes up every morning knowing who she is, but not much else.
When Christine starts keeping a journal to remind herself of what she learned the day before, she starts to understand that the pieces of her life her husband, Ben, is providing for her don’t fit together.
The more contradictions she discovers, the more she wants to uncover what really happened to her and to understand why Ben isn’t telling her the truth.
Before I Go to Sleep was a bit slow at first, but, once I got into the plot, I couldn’t wait to see how it ended. It was full of surprises, which is unusual in a time when it seems like everything has been written about before. It’s absolutely worth reading.
Trust No One
Trust No One by Paul Cleave is the story of Jerry Grey, a crime writer with early onset Alzheimer’s who begins to confuse reality with the crimes of the characters in his books.
Jerry becomes even more confused when he discovers evidence that some of his stories are real.
Is he a murderer? He confesses to being one, but those around him are uncertain about what he’s done versus what he’s just imagining.
Once again, a book with a unique storyline and plenty of twists. I devoured this book, just so I could find out if Jerry was innocent or guilty.
Blackout: Remembering the Things I Drank to Forget
Blackout: Remembering the Things I Drank to Forget is Sarah Hepola’s candid memoir about her struggle with alcoholism. What first seems like an independent, strong woman becomes recognizable as someone with a sad illness when you read about all of the blank spots in Hepola’s memory. Her addiction resulted in dangerous choices and embarrassing behavior, and that’s just what she can remember or was told. Then Hepola writes honestly about trying repeatedly to force herself to give up drinking, even though she really never wanted to.
When I first started reading this book, it was like a car wreck that I couldn’t look away from. I remember claiming to my husband that I couldn’t believe someone would drink that much and that I had never blacked out. He questioned with astonishment if I had never drank so much that I couldn’t remember parts of an evening or event. Oh…
While many of us haven’t mirrored Hepola’s level of addiction, her story resonates with anyone who has ever drank much more than they should. The book is interesting, sad and, at times, terrifying.
There you have it! These five books may not be your typical bubble gum beach reads, but I promise they’re worth reading. I hope you have a safe, relaxing Spring Break. And, as always, happy reading!
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