Sponsored by Nightfire, publisher of ECHO by Thomas Olde Heuvelt.
From international bestselling sensation Thomas Olde Heuvelt comes Echo, a thrilling descent into madness and obsession as one man confronts nature—and something even more ancient and evil answers back. Travel journalist and mountaineer Nick Grevers awakes from a coma to find that his climbing buddy, Augustin, is missing and presumed dead. Nick’s own injuries are as extensive as they are horrifying. His face wrapped in bandages and unable to speak, Nick claims amnesia—but he remembers everything. Something is haunting Nick, and something has awakened inside of him– something that endangers the lives of everyone around him.
Welcome to Read This Book, a newsletter where I recommend one book that I think you absolutely must read. The books will vary across genre and age category to include new releases, backlist titles, and classics. If you’re ready to explode your TBR, buckle up!
Since we’re heading into Valentine’s Day weekend, I thought I’d recommend the last great romance novel that I fell for. I know Emily Henry is a buzzy name in rom-coms at the moment, and let me tell you—her books are 100% worth the hype. This is a feel-good read that will make you believe in second chances and love, in case you need that this weekend!
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People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
Poppy and Alex have been best friends since the end of their freshmen year of college, when they shared a ride back to their hometown. They’re total opposites: Poppy is outgoing, upbeat, always down for an adventure. Alex is quiet, reserved, prefers to stay home and read. The one big thing they have in common: They like to travel. They begin a tradition of taking a summer trip each year, and that becomes a touchstone for them as they move from their college days and head into their thirties…but they haven’t gone on a trip in two years, since the big fight. And now Poppy is desperate to mend their friendship by coaxing him on one more trip. But in doing so, she’ll have to confront the confusing tangle of emotions she has about the true nature of their relationship.
Emily Henry’s characters absolutely shine through in this book. They’re so smart, funny, and multi-faceted. I loved how she plumbed the depths of Poppy and Alex’s friendship, giving them a beautiful and complex backstory, so many inside jokes, and plenty of shared history that made them leap off the page. They felt like real people, and their connection was so genuine. I also loved that Henry takes readers on a series of vacations throughout the years, going from their broke college days to the swankier vacations they’re able to afford later thanks to Poppy’s job as a travel writer, showcasing a bunch of fun vacation and travel settings. Of course, these vacations are never just simple trips, but an opportunity for the characters to explore what they want out of life and what matters most to them, and each trip brings them closer to admitting their true feelings for each other. The varied experiences and funny mishaps are all very memorable, and make me want to pack a suitcase and go anywhere just for the sake of an adventure.
While the book is light on plot and heavy on character, Henry cleverly uses flashbacks to all their previous trips together to build to the moment where it all went wrong, interspersed with scenes from their present day awkward vacation where they’re tentatively finding their way back. The emotional heart and the humor are spot on, and you’ll be rooting for these friends-to-lovers to find their happily ever after. It’s a fun trip, as decadent as any getaway!
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Happy reading!
Tirzah
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