With this week's glorious weather, I think it is fair to say summer has arrived. To some, that means trips to the beach or the lake, baseball games and barbecues, maybe even summer hours at the office.
For librarians, summer has some less relaxing connotations: Summer reading season will soon be here. Parents will prod their kids to keep their mind sharp over summer vacation. Wayward former readers will wander back, seeking recommendations as they cautiously dip their toe in the water of a once beloved pastime. And hoards of power readers will storm the library seeking the hottest titles of the summer.
That is what I'm here to provide today. I polled librarians Maura Schoo, Capri Pappas and Lauren Link at Hinsdale Public Library on what books they believe will fly off the shelves this season. We want our patrons - and loyal readers of The Hinsdalean - to know what's coming, so they can be the first in line for the summers' bestsellers. With this inside edge, you will be the star of your block party, a trendy yet intellectual source of wisdom for all who know you.
Adult fiction
• "Paradise Problem" by Christina Lauren (out now)
The show "Succession" was an inspiration for this popular romantic comedy.
• "You Are Here" by David Nicholls (out now)
The novelist and screenwriter behind Netflix's recent hit "One Day" is out with a book set on a long-distance walking trail in England.
• "Eruption" by Michael Crichton and James Patterson (June 3)
The creator of "Jurassic Park," "ER" and "Twister" had pursued this project for years before his untimely passing in 2008. His wife passed his notes and partial manuscript on to the only author she thought could finish the book - James Patterson, perhaps the world's most popular storyteller.
• "Swan Song" by Elin Hilderbrand (June 11)
This is the last of Hilderbrand's "Nantucket" novels before her retirement.
• "All the Colors of the Dark" by Chris Whitaker (June 25)
The bestselling author of "We Begin at the End" has written what's been called both a "soaring thriller" and an "epic love story" that has generated lots of buzz ahead of its release.
• "Briar Club" by Kate Quinn (July 9)
Quinn's women-led historical fiction is always popular in Hinsdale, and we expect her latest, set at a midcentury Washington, D.C. boardinghouse, will continue that trend.
Adult nonfiction
• "The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War" by Erik Larson (out now)
The author of "The Devil in the White City" and "In the Garden of Beasts," a master of weaving letters, articles and diary entries from dark chapters of history into gripping stories, has turned his attention to the months leading up to the Civil War. The book follows aristocrats, soldiers and Abraham Lincoln himself through this fascinating time.
• "Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space: by Adam Higginbotham (out now)
The author of "Midnight in Chernobyl" is back with an extensively-researched book that spends several years following crew members and others involved in this tragedy.
Youth and teen fiction
Younger readers should check out last year's "Nat the Cat" series by Jarrett Lerner (ages 1–4) and the Newberry-winning "The Eyes and the Impossible" by Dave Eggers (grades 2–6) if they haven't already. These are some of the top performers in our Youth Department and will appeal to a wide variety of readers.
Two recent thrillers - "Five Survive: by Holly Jackson and "The Counselors" by Jessica Goodman - have received excellent reviews from both critics and, more importantly, Hinsdale teens.
- John Kokoris is marketing and outreach manager at
Hinsdale Public Library.