Who better to ask about what books to enjoy while lying in the sand this summer than one of the authors of last summer’s hottest reads, The Knockoff ? If you were one of the few people who didn’t rip through the book last year, imagine a 2016 update to The Devil Wears Prada, as seen through a digitally revolutionized lens. A longtime respected print editor finds herself facing off with her former assistant, an over-ambitious millennial, who wants to turn her reputable, glossy magazine into an app. What happens after that is a modern-day comedy of grammatical errors. The good news is that as of a few weeks ago The Knockoff came out in paperback, so you have another, easier-to-tote opportunity to get in on all the gossip-filled action. In addition to this must-read, one of the book’s authors, Jo Piazza, told us her picks for the other paperbacks of the summer. Read on for what you should make sure is in your beach bag now.
The Knockoff, by Lucy Sykes and Jo Piazza
The Royal We, by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan
"I just finished devouring Will and Kate’s Indian adventure and needed a new royals fix. This thinly veiled comedy about the royal romance from The Fug Girls delivered exactly what I needed."
My Paris Dream, by Kate Betts
"This coming-of-age memoir about escaping to Paris to be a journalist in the 1980s made me want to book a ticket to France ASAP."
Summer Secrets, by Jane Green
"The characters come alive immediately, and the dreamy summer time in Nantucket is as pretty as can be. But the alcoholism gets as ugly as possible and our heroine—party girl Cat—sleeps with the wrong man who she happens to be related to through marriage, and, well, that's an incredible summer read."
Who Do You Love, by Jennifer Weiner
"I have a friend who always told me falling in love is all about chemistry, good lighting and timing. Ain't it the truth? Inspired by Weiner's own page-turning love story, this novel talks about what it means to lose love and find it again when the time is right."
Dietland, by Sarai Walker
"This one is near and dear to my heart. My Knockoff coauthor, Lucy Sykes, and I are working on a new novel that pokes just a wee bit of fun at the out-of-control health, wellness and fitness world we're all obsessed with these days. We only hope we can succeed as well as Sarai Walker in Dietland. The book starts out simply enough with a protagonist who longs to be picture-perfect thin before discovering a group of women who reject everything the world tells us women need to be."
The House of Hawthorne, By Erika Robuck
"There's a strong and inspiring woman behind every successful man. Robuck's novel crafts a narrative around Sophia Peabody, the wife of literary giant Nathaniel Hawthorne, beautifully telling the story of how Peabody overcame tragedy for love and family."
