12 Authors Share Favorite Summer Books

Top-selling writers offer picks for one-day reading, a weekend, or the whole summer.

What Does a Writer Read?

What do authors of notable beach books turn to when they want to kick back? What do writers as diverse as Augusten Burroughs and Danielle Steel pick to read in a day, a weekend, or a summer? What books do they keep on hand to dip into and out of? Real Simple asked some of your favorite novelists that question; the recommendations here, in their own words, are as varied and surprising as the bold-faced names behind them.

 

The Authors

Augusten Burroughs is the author of A Wolf at the Table: A Memoir of My Father ($14, amazon.com).

Jackie Collins has written more than 25 best-sellers, including her latest, Poor Little Bitch Girl ($27, amazon.com).

Nelson DeMille, the author of numerous suspense novels, is releasing his latest, The Lion, in June ($28, amazon.com).

Janet Evanovich writes romance and mystery novels, most recently Sizzling Sixteen ($28, amazon.com).

Linda Fairstein is an assistant district attorney turned novelist whose 12th legal thriller, Hell Gate ($27, amazon.com), came out in March.

Elizabeth Gilbert wrote Eat, Pray, Love, among other books ($15, amazon.com).

Philippa Gregory writes historical fiction. The Other Queen ($16, amazon.com) is now in paperback.

Sophie Kinsella is the author of Twenties Girl ($15, amazon.com), now out in paperback.

Debbie Macomber is the author of numerous novels, including Hannah’s List ($25, amazon.com), published in April.

James Patterson writes prolifically for both adults and children. Fang: A Maximum Ride Novel ($18, amazon.com) came out in March.

Jodi Picoult is the author of 18 novels. Her latest is House Rules ($28, amazon.com).

Danielle Steel has published almost 80 novels for adults, plus a series of books for young readers. Big Girl ($28, amazon.com) came out in February.