We love a toasty beach read or a gripping psychological-thriller [1], perhaps you're looking for a little light inspiration at the moment. From real-life tales of immigration to historical nonfiction, there are so many upcoming books [2] we can't wait to get our hands on! Below, we curated a carousel of uplifting books written by authors from diverse backgrounds [3] and upbringings. Many touch on mother-daughter relationships, strong female bonds, and journeys of self-discovery. Keep scrolling to see a list of upcoming summer releases and make sure to bookmark your favourites so you don't miss out!
Rebel Chef
Honoured as the first woman in the US to be awarded three Michelin Stars, Chef Dominque is giving fans an inside and very personal look into her life in the kitchen, especially in a male-dominated world. Readers will walk away from Rebel Chef [4] inspired, motivated, heard, and lifted.
Big Friendship: How We Keep Each Other Close
Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman call each other every week to catch up, gossip, support, and love one another. In doing so, they've created the podcast Call Your Girlfriend, where no topic is off-limits. Big Friendship: How We Keep Each Other Close [5] (which gets released on 14 July) will bring a smile to your face, remind you why you love your friends (and sometimes get angry with them too!) and make you want to call your girlfriend.
Stray
Stephanie Danler, author of Sweetbitter, is back at it again with her newest memoir Stray [6]. Despite growing up in a fractured family filled with lies and addiction, Stephanie has managed to build a substantial and beautiful life for herself. This awe-inspiring book is out now!
Crooked Hallelujah
Kelli Jo Ford has captured the bond and unconditional love a mother has for her child in her upcoming book Crooked Hallelujah [7]. A strong independent Cherokee woman packs up her and her daughter's life in hopes of a creating a better one, conquering life's challenges and nature's hurdles along the way. In the UK, the book becomes available on 14 July.
Memorial Drive
After a traumatic upbringing and a soul-searching journey of love and resilience, poet Natasha Trethewey is ready to share her story in Memorial Drive [8] (available 28 July). While a majority of this memoir highlights white racism and domestic abuse, it also tells the uplifting story of Natasha coming into her own, and rising above the crime that happened on Memorial Drive.
Must I Go
Grab your tissues because Yiyun Li's novel is sure to make you both cry and laugh. Must I Go [9] tells the story of Lilia Liska, an elderly woman who takes readers on a journey of her life, the adventures she's experienced, a man she fell in love with, and most importantly, her relationship with her daughter. Available on 20 August 2020.
Broken People
Being confident and comfortable in your own skin takes great courage, and Broken People [10] examines just that. Sam Lanksy twists cynicism, chaos, peace, and transformation in his half-truth, half-fiction debut novel.
Want
Elizabeth has worked hard her whole life and has everything she ever wanted; a bustling career life; kids and a husband; a PhD. But she's exhausted. Needing to confide in someone who truly knows her, Elizabeth messages Sasha, her childhood friend . . . who she hasn't talked to in years. In Want [11] (which gets released in the UK on 7 July) Lynn Steger Strong explores the tribes and trues of a solid, long-lasting female friendship.
We Came Here to Shine
We Came Here to Shine [12] time travels to the 1939 New York World's Fair. There, we meet a pair of strong and ambitious women who have big dreams and plans of conquering the world. Written by Susie Orman Schnall, this historical fiction will have you rooting for these two gals and leave you wanting more.
What We Carry
Mary Shanbhag Lang's memoir is the uplifting and courageous story of Maya's relationship with her mother. After discovering that her mother is living with Alzheimer's, Maya tries to piece together her and her family's past, especially from when her mother immigrated from India. What We Carry [13] is a raw look at how women carry their lives (and secrets) until they're at their most vulnerable.
Act Like a Lady
Keltie Knight, Becca Tobin, and Jac Vanek, the strong female hosts behind the LadyGang podcast, are getting personal in their upcoming book Act Like a Lady [14]. Inside, readers will find relatable, empowering, and hysterical stories, illustrating that no one is perfect and that you shouldn't be scared or embarrassed to be your unapologetic self.
Brunch and Other Obligations
Suzanne Nugent's uplifting and sometimes heart-wrenching novel follows three long-time friends who come together every month for brunch. During these gatherings, they laugh, cry, share anecdotes, but most importantly remember the life of their friend Molly. It was Molly's idea to have brunch once a month. Brunch and Other Obligations [15] proves that while loss and grief are difficult to overcome, the medicine of friendship is powerful.
Happy & You Know It
Motherhood is hard enough, but then there's the mom-shamming and cold stares of judgement from society. Happy & You Know It [16] shows both the good and ugly sides of motherhood through three friends and their new nanny. Laura Hankin paints the unbreakable supportive bond between moms of all backgrounds.
Fast Girls
Fast Girls [17] is the compelling real-life story of the female athletes of the first integrated women's Olympic team. Elise Hooper brings to light the untold stories of these talented female athletes in the 1936 summer Olympics in Berlin, Nazi Germany. We're already hoping for a film adaption!
East Coast Girls
In East Coast Girls [18], readers will follow four childhood friends, more like sisters, and their happy sun-kissed summers spent in Montauk on Long Island. However, when an incident happens, their friendship is at jeopardy. Kerry Kletter captures the essence of friendship and forgiveness in her upcoming summer book.