By BookBaby author Joe Yamulla
Looking for some excellent summer reading material? Support independent authors by shopping at the BookBaby Bookshop and lose yourself in these great titles.
Summer is around the corner, and now is the time to prepare your reading list! Remember, a day at the beach isn’t complete without a good book in your hand. Why not start your search on the BookBaby Bookshop!? You can discover new and exciting books while directly supporting the independent authors who write them.
As the most author-friendly bookstore on the Internet, Bookshop pays its authors the highest royalty rates in the industry — allowing independent authors to earn three times more than they would on traditional retail sites.
As you prepare for a summer filled with trips and good times, take a look at some of our selections for the upcoming months of warmth and sun!
Save the World Inc.
by Andrew McCormick
Andrew McCormick absolutely delivers in Save The World Inc., a deeply relevant novel that shines light on consumer behavior, corporate greed, and poverty. In the book, a West African country’s economy lives and dies off of its main crop — the cocoa fruit. Cocoa helps the people of Givory make a living, and commodity traders make millions. When a brutal dry season leads to a devastating drought, Givory’s people go hungry and the world’s chocolate supply is endangered. As the novel plays out, one woman attempts to unite the cocoa farmers so they have greater bargaining power at harvest time — allowing the impoverished to buy food during lean season. In his powerful novel, McCormick explores the intersection of commerce, compassion, politics, technology, media, and government. In our world that is so heavily influenced by the choices of our leaders, this enthralling story reminds us of how impactful they can be.
The Boiling Frog
by Michael Darmody
April’s featured Bookshop author, Michael Darmody, is sure to make you rethink the world around you. The title refers to the old adage that if you drop a frog into a pot of boiling water, it will immediately jump out. But if you place it in cool water and gradually raise the temperature to a boil, the frog will slowly cook without realizing it. As we continue to confront the realities of a warming climate, volatile leadership, and growing poverty, his book grows in relevance. The Boiling Frog elaborates on existential threats and then shares how to address these issues. Although Darmody spends great effort addressing distressing truths, there is hope in his book that readers will find empowering. The book is a compelling resource to challenge the status quo and inspire change for future generations.
No Me Puedes Lastimar
by David Goggins
If there is one person who can motivate you to do anything, it is David Goggins. After selling over four million copies of Can’t Hurt Me, he now brings Spanish readers this new edition, No Me Puedes Lastimar. Goggins inspires and empowers readers to build an unbreakable mind and never give up, regardless of the challenges thrown at you. As he shares his powerful life story, he elaborates on what helped him persevere through profound darkness to become the man he is today. So many people will tell you that anything is possible, but David Goggins is living proof of it. We are thrilled that Goggin’s story can now be read and shared by Spanish readers everywhere. This summer read is certain to change your life.
Too Much Loft
by Michael J. Stott
Calling all golfers! Too Much Loft consists of three coming-of-age novellas that follow a young man’s journey as a caddie, grounds crew member, and golf shop attendant at a suburban Chicago country club in the 1960s. Michael J. Stott is a marvelous storyteller, and his nostalgic writing style makes for a wonderful tale of personal growth that transpires on the lush greens of a golf course. This book will absolutely appeal to all who grew up spending their summers on the course — navigating the quirky personalities that come with it. Fundamentally, this is a story of growth, set in the backdrop of the hot and lazy days that so many of us wish we could experience once more.
Markham Street
by Ronnie Williams
There are some books that leave you at a loss for words, and Markham Street certainly qualifies as one of them. As the world continues to heal and fight racism and oppression, it is ever so important to read this book. Through the lens of his community, author Ronnie Williams elaborates on systemic racism, police violence, and oppression. Beyond that, he shares his enduring love for his lost brother who was unlawfully arrested and killed by police. The book is a tragic and compelling expression of his unresolved grief, his righteous determination for justice, and his own remarkable career in the same city where his brother was killed.
Coffee! The Magical Elixir
by Dr. Sanjiv Chopra
I don’t know about you, but many of my summer mornings are spent sipping coffee. The next time you enjoy a cup — iced or warm — pair it with Coffee! The Magical Elixir. Dr. Sanjiv Chopra presents an exploration of coffee as rich as any brew. Throughout his book, he shares coffee’s myriad health benefits that will have you feeling good about pouring another cup. The book presents scientific studies that are both insightful and understandable. Although it is scientific in nature, Chopra’s writing style is informative and direct — making this book very easy for even an English major like myself to grasp! Coffee! The Magical Elixir is a must-read for coffee drinkers everywhere.
Come Watch the Nighttime Breathe
by Jeff Gray
Summer is a time of growth, renewal, and change, making it the perfect season to dive into coming-of-age tales. In Come Watch The Nighttime Breathe, the first book of Jeff Gray’s anticipated Seeking Satori series, a young man begins his journey to learn the meaning of life — and more specifically, the meaning of his own life. The novel wonderfully captures life in a small Midwest town during the 1970s and tells a powerful story to which so many of us can relate. This is a gripping tale of self-discovery and self-actualization that should make your fiction list this summer.
Ese to Master Jefe
by Raul R. Ramos
Blending autobiographical elements with self-help, Raul Ramos hits it out of the park in Ese to Master Jefe. The book is raw, emotional, and vulnerable as Ramos takes you on an empowering journey from his street-gang life in South Central Los Angeles to achieving the prestigious rank of Master Chief in the United States Navy. He never let his past destroy his future, and regardless of your background, his book shares empowering advice and motivation that will help you make positive changes. Ramos is a gritty underdog who tells a compelling story, and I couldn’t get enough of it.
Lost and Found in Montana
by Robert L. Docter
In 2022, everyone is talking about Montana. Due in part to the hit Paramount series Yellowstone, America is recently enamored with the wonders of the Big Sky state… and for good reason! Montana as a setting is built for storytelling: the incredible beauty of its land, its native peoples, and its unique history make it a place like no other. Lost and Found in Montana uses the setting like a protagonist, and it becomes the novel’s driving force. It’s a wholesome coming-of-age story that will appeal to Christian readers. The book follows a young man as he travels through Montana in 1918 on a spiritual journey for what truly matters in life.
The Red-Headed Cook of the Desert
by Judy Muller and Cheri Mathews
The Red-Headed Cook of the Desert is a journalistic triumph and a fascinating story of paradoxes. Journalist Judy Muller works with Cheri Mathews, a woman serving lifetime parole for murder. Cheri is convicted of murder, yet voted Humanitarian of the Year by fellow inmates. She is a young Army soldier who goes AWOL not once, but twice, only to earn many commendations before earning an honorable discharge. She admits to killing two men, but she has a reputation for standing up to bullies and saving lives. The book takes readers on a journey into Cheri’s complicated life, through her ill-fated attempts at marriage and motherhood, to her love affair with meth and the murder that landed her in prison. Judy Muller is the perfect person to tell this story. Muller is an Emmy and Peabody award-winning journalist and professor emerita at USC’s Annenberg School of Journalism.
From Bear Dens to the Oval Office
by Sheridan Steele
Here is a book for lovers of animals, adventure, and nature. From Bear Dens to the Oval Office is a collection of stories and photographs from the author’s 38 years working in America’s national parks. The book shares wildlife encounters, search-and-rescue missions, highlights from hosting Presidential visits, and so much more. Overall, the book does an excellent job highlighting the wonders of America’s national parks and the amount of work that goes into serving them. The book might just inspire you to take a trip to visit one of them this summer!
The Nightingale Sings Alone
by Monika Savic
Wartime historical fiction has always been one of my favorite genres to read. Some of the best selling novels of all time fall under this category, and this book manages to stand out among them. The Nightingale Sings Alone shares the story of two girls who live through the tumultuous years of WWII in Nazi-occupied Holland. Their village suffers occupation, loss, and death, and the girls must find a way to navigate those challenging times while holding on to their friendship, the only part of their young lives that remains unchanged. It’s an empowering story of friendship and courage set amidst the backdrop of a fascinating and horrifying time in history.
Plus-Size
by Mekdela
With this summer, and every summer to come, it is important that we continue to grow and inspire social change. Plus-Size is a wonderful book that helps us do just that. The book chronicles the rise of the body positive movement and body positivity through pop culture reviews and personal reflections. It emphasizes the potential for social change and paints a big picture of fatphobia, misogyny, misogynoir, ableism, and capitalism in American society. It’s an engaging and informative book that will help its readers improve as individuals and as a collective society.
The Quantum Contingent
by Gregory R Simpson
Don’t worry! Science-fiction and high tech has its place on this list. This book creatively entertains and even touts its own Spotify playlist as its companion! The Quantum Contingent is a globe-trotting, techno-spy thriller with plenty of pop-culture references. It is fast paced, adventurous, and a lot of fun! Author Gregory Simpson does a great job constructing his literary world by featuring today’s technologies that have been extrapolated for tomorrow. It is also great to see that more authors are beginning to pair their written art with audio. This is one of many new books being paired with a music playlist. It absolutely enhances the reading experience and adds an entirely new dimension to the story.
Hopefully this list helps you find some great books to read this summer! There are plenty more interesting titles to be discovered beyond this collection at the BookBaby Bookshop! Happy reading!
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