The Books List

Top Picks for Book Club & Beyond

- BY KRISTYN KUSEK LEWIS

A Couple Adrift

True story: In 1972, Maurice and Maralyn Bailey embarked on the trip of their dreams, setting off from England to sail around the world. One year in, a whale crashed into their boat, forcing them to abandon it for a tiny rubber raft, on which they'd float in the Pacific for the next four months. (Yes, this happened!) British journalist Sophie Elmhirst recounts their story in A Marriage at Sea. It's a heart-pounding ride for sure, and also a deeply moving meditation on partnership and what it means to rely on someone like your life depends on it...especially when it actually does.

Love, Laughs & Tears

Julia meets Gabe when she's 18. He is her first love and then her best friend, but 12 years into their relationship, they hit a rough patch. When he dies unexpectedly, she has an unsettling encounter with his recent ex-girlfriend at his memorial service. Their exchange leads Julia to London to retrieve some of Gabe’s belongings from the ex; ultimately, she discovers the true impact he had on her life. Loved One by Emmy-winning TV writer Aisha Muharrar (Hacks, Parks and Recreation) poignantly examines loss while incorporating tons of humor and charm.

Techy Thriller