Warm weather days bring afternoons spent lounging at the pool, sunning at the beach, or relaxing outside in a comfortable Adirondack chair with a glass of iced tea. There’s no better way to enjoy an afternoon then by passing the time with a good read. During the summer months, most of us are looking for books that are fun and light. “Books where you don’t’ have to carry a dictionary,” says Laura Pritchard, director of the Dannemora Free Library. At the library, Pritchard performs most a librarian’s duties including cataloging books and helping patrons who come in search of the perfect summer book.

Pritchard sets aside two categories for “beach” or summer reads; thrillers like political mysteries or murder mysteries, and general family and/or romance books. People tend to stick with authors like Robert Parker or James Patterson, who is well known for his murder mysteries. But there are lighter choices available. Ones don’t make you feel like you have to reread the book to get the whole story.

Books like The Uncommon Reader, by Alan Bennett, where a fictional Queen Elizabeth sets off in a library van to find her precious dogs, but ends up finding the pleasure in doing “common” activities. A short, fun novella, says Pritchard of this selection from Tony-Award winner Bennett.

Another suggestion from Pritchard comes in the form of a romance novel. Jude Deveraux’s latest novel Days of Gold is now available in paperback. It is the second book in the Edilean series that takes place in Scotland and America. Deveraux is a New York Times best selling author and is sure to spice up you summer.

Lastly, Pritchard recommends author Barbara Delinsky. “It’s not normally the kind of book I like to read, but I was intrigued.” Pritchard says. Delinsky’s newest book, Not My Daughter is about a pregnancy pact in a small town in Maine and how the pact affects the mothers and daughters involved. Again, not exactly light reading, but this book details relationships between women in tough situations.” Sarah Galvin also knows a lot about summer reads. She is the owner of The Bookstore Plus in Lake Placid, which sells books, art supplies and many other items. While the store has a strong community of year-round customers, summer months, particularly July and August, are the busiest months for Galvin. That’s when tourism starts to pick up in the region. She finds that “people are on vacation, coming in for a book to read.” Galvin has had customers who’ve waited for their vacation to start their attacking their reading wish lists. “I’ve waited to do all my summer book buying. What’ve you got for me?” is often heard coming from her loyal customers.

The store specializes in fiction books, Adirondack inspired literature, New York Times bestsellers and children’s books but that’s not the only kind of books they carry. Galvin’s store features a table that houses books found on the Indie Next List, a list of books reviewed by independent booksellers like Galvin. This list is a great resource for people who don’t have a lot of time to research new authors.

Galvin highly recommends a book that reached number 1 on the Indie List. The Help, by Kathryn Stockett, is the story of a recent college grad whose desire to become a writer leads her to tell the stories of black women in 1962 Mississippi. “I adored it!” says Galvin. “We sold a phenomenal amount (of this book).”

Another book Galvin enjoys is based in real life and is called The Wives of Henry Oades: A Novel by Johanna Moran. A recent paperback publication, this book tells the story of Henry Oades who inadvertently becomes a bigamist when he remarries after the “death” of his first wife. “Paperback is so much more accessible,” says Galvin. People are more willing to pick up the paperback of an unknown author since the price of the book is lower than a hardcover book of the same title.

Local author, Chris Bohjalian, is also a favorite of Galvin. Secrets of Eden is a murder mystery, set in a Vermont Baptist church. The story centers around a woman who is found dead alongside her abusive husband. “I did not know who did it until the end,” says Galvin. Bohjalian uses sites in Vermont in the story, so local readers will find it easy to recognize where the story takes place.

Whatever you choose to read this summer, you won’t be disappointed. Check out your local libraries and your local bookstores. There you’ll find friendly, knowledgeable people who are there to make you summer sizzle!

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