Can't-Wait Summer Releases

I look forward to books coming out like other people look forward to summer blockbuster movie releases. So what books can I absolutely not wait for this year? Here's my list of recent and upcoming releases:

• My Fair Lazy: One Reality Television Addict's Attempt to Discover If Not Being a Dumb Ass Is the New Black, or A Culture-up Manifesto by Jen Lancaster (May 4, 2010): In Lancaster's fifth memoir, she examines the world that is reality television. She's the best funny lady in the memoir business, not to mention an excellent book title creator. I can almost guarantee that in addition to talking American Idol and Dancing With the Stars, she tells plenty of stories about her dogs, her neighbors, and her hubby.
  
  



• On Folly Beach by Karen White (May 4, 2010): I went to Folly Field Beach a few weeks ago. Wrong Folly Beach, but right ocean (Folly Field is on Hilton Head Island, while Folly Beach is nearer to Charleston). Still, just visiting South Carolina and the Atlantic Ocean made me want to delve into this new release.
  
  



• The Nobodies Album by Carolyn Parkhurst (June 1, 2010): Parkhurst's The Dogs of Babel was one of the most engrossing novels I've ever read. That being said, if I had gone solely on its description, I never would have chosen it as a title I would enjoy. Although this book's summary doesn't scream "me", Parkhurst's excellent narrative voice leaves little doubt in my mind that I'll enjoy Nobodies just as much.
  





• Lowcountry Summer by Dorothea Benton Frank (June 15, 2010): I've read every novel written by Frank, and I don't plan on stopping anytime soon. I'm glad she has slowly been returning to the scenes of her previous novels to write follow-ups. (This is the second which will follow Plantation, after last year's Return to Sullivans Island.)
  
  



• uncharted terriTORI by Tori Spelling (June 15, 2010): I don't care what anyone says, I'm a Tori Spelling fan. I loved 90210, I've watched Tori & Dean from its inception at the Inn, and I've read her previous two books. I'm positive this one will be just as entertaining.
  
  



• Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich (June 22, 2010): Sometimes Evanovich misses, but most of the time she's writing successes. No matter how good or just-okay this novel is, I can't wait to plunge back into the world of Stephanie Plum and friends. Especially Ranger. And Morelli, come to think of it. Okay -- Lula and Grandma Mazer rank pretty high as well. Jersey it is.
  





• Faithful Place by Tana French (July 13, 2010): French writes dark, deep literary mysteries. Her first two novels, In the Woods and The Likeness were related, following the character Cassie Maddox after she works with Rob Ryan. This one promises to do the same, but moves backwards rather than forwards in time to Cassie's original undercover trainer, Frank Mackey and how he became involved in police work.
  
  



• Burnt Mountain by Anne Rivers Siddons (August 11, 2010): As with many authors I like, I've read each of Siddons's books (fiction and one non-fiction). This title was listed to be released in August. For some reason, Amazon no longer offers it for pre-sale, and Borders says it won't be released until July 2011. I guess we'll see, but I'm sure it will be amazing whenever it comes out.
  
  


• Spider Bones by Kathy Reichs (August 24, 2010): That's right! The thirteenth book in my beloved Tempe series is due out this summer. Who knows what creepy bone capers Reichs will send her protagonist on in this latest Bones-inspiring novel.

• The Reversal by Michael Connelly (October 5, 2010): Michael Connelly is another one of those authors -- love him (even in person!) and have read everything he's written. The newest details a joint effort by both police detective Harry Bosch and his lawyer half-brother Mickey Haller.
  
  


• Port Mortuary by Patricia Cornwell (November 30, 2010): Scarpetta is back in another new release. The medical examiner reportedly tells her own story (first-person) in this novel and returns to her long-abandoned military ties. Those in the know describe this as a throw-back to the first Scarpetta novels, so I'm sure to like this more than some of the newer, more flashy novels Cornwell has recently released about the ME.