With the first day of summer just around the corner, I am anticipating books that I want to read while spending time outside (social distancing, of course). As much as I love Netflix, reading was my first love and I can’t wait to sit under a tree or on my porch while escaping into 2020’s summer reads. Here are three books that have just been released or are being released in the coming months:

“Brunch and Other Obligations” by Suzanne Nugent 

Release Date: May 5th, 2020

Nora, Christina, and Leanne never had much in common except their friendship with Molly. But when Molly passes away, she makes one final request in the hopes of keeping her three best friends together: Have brunch together once a month for a year. Throughout the next year, the three women will come together and learn how to use humour and heart to get through the difficult and confusing moments in life. This fiction novel is an inspiring and fun read for the beach.

“The Safe Place” by Anna Downes 

Release Date: July 14th, 2020

Extremely down on her luck, Emily Proudman believes her prayers have been answered when CEO and family man Scott Denny offers her a job as a housekeeper on his remote French estate. Falling into their extravagant lifestyle and becoming an important part of their home life, Emily begins to feel like she has found the perfect new beginning — until it all falls apart. Discovering the couple’s darkest secrets, Emily will have to play along with their wicked game or face deadly consequences.

“Age of Consent” by Amanda Brainerd 

Release Date: July 14th, 2020 

It’s 1983, and best friends Justine and Eve want out of their miserable lives at their Connecticut boarding school, Griswold Academy. They soon find escape as they spend the summer in New York City to join Eve’s childhood friend, India. All three then find themselves grappling with the power that adults, like their parents, have over them.