It's not too early to prep for a special summer reading season

Only 25 days to go ...  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ​ Dear Reader, Last weekend my 18-year-old daughter and I took a little road trip together. While we were on the road we talked about what we wanted to watch and read ([we even visited a few indies](=)!). I mentioned that I was interested in the new Apple TV adaptation of Laura Dave's novel The Last Thing He Told Me starring Jennifer Garner. I'll tell you what I told my daughter: I LOVED the book. I inhaled my egalley in one big gulp on a Friday night in April 2021, and immediately declared it a pick for that year's Summer Reading Guide. It had a strong hook, compelling characters, and a highly discussable resolution, all wrapped up in a thriller-y package totally unlike anything Dave had previously published. I didn't try to sell her on it, but instead tried to describe what I liked about it, and what my reading experience was like. I also told her I wasn't sure I wanted to watch the series, because of how much I loved the book: while it can be fun to see a much-loved book get the small screen treatment, I know I'm not the only reader who's been disappointed (or baffled, or miffed) by how their favorite story is altered in the process. My daughter was intrigued by my book description, and we both love Jennifer Garner, so we decided to go for it. We started in on the first two episodes of The Last Thing He Told Me as soon as we got back in town. And we weren't even five minutes into the story when she turned to me and said, Didn't you say we own this book? I told her we did. And then she asked me one more time to tell her what the reading experience was like, and if I thought she might like it. I did, and she was sold, saying, I want to start it tonight! I was surprised, because this child hasn't been interested in fiction lately. But I was delighted, because I well know that glorious feeling of hearing about a book from a trusted source and thinking, I want to read that RIGHT NOW. It's the best feeling, right? It's not like she'd never heard of the book before: it's well-known, with over 2 million copies sold, and we had a copy at home. But sometimes it takes more than familiarity or the flap copy or a #bookstagram marketing blitz to get you interested. Sometimes you need a bit more information: you need to hear someone tell you more, and to tell it to you true. Not because they have something to gain, but because they're excited about you potentially finding a great read. That’s actually one of our capital-g Goals with the [Summer Reading Guide](–to give you a bit more of the information you need in order to know if a book might be right for you (because who wants to wait years to watch the pilot of the TV show before picking up a great book?). That's also why over the 12 years we’ve been making the Summer Reading Guide we've added features to make it even more helpful for readers looking for just-right summer reads. We begin with our the custom descriptions I write for each included book. These aren't just plot summaries: I strive to give you a real feel for what your reading experience might be like, so you can decide if it's an experience you'd like to have yourself. I'm not just telling you what happens; I'm speaking to things like pacing and tone and feel. Beginning in 2021, I started sharing "flight picks" for each title. In the guide, you'll notice the words "for fans of..." alongside each of our 50 2023 selections. That's where I share two (or more) titles that play nicely with that selection because of similar tone, feel, or themes. If you've enjoyed one of the books listed, you're likely to enjoy them all. This feature gives you more context by allowing you to consider new and unfamiliar books in relation to titles you may be more familiar with. (These "for fans of" picks also quickly give you plenty more ideas for what to read next!) Our Summer Reading Guide stands alone ... but our [live Unboxing event](=) is designed to make it even easier to decide what to add to your summer TBR, and have fun doing it. At Unboxing, I share more about each book, why I love it, and what kind of reader may be most drawn to it. Our talk is purposely casual and unscripted: this isn't a polished marketing presentation, this is the kind of lean-in-close conversation we'd have over coffee. Plus, when you attend live, you'll have the chance to ask your specific and personal questions about vibes, content, the spicy factor, emotional resonance, the audio version ... you name it! (Now's a good time to mention that I don't include a book in the Summer Reading Guide unless I've read it cover to cover. That means I'm able to answer your questions about all our selections! And if I can't answer a question—because, say, I haven't had the opportunity to listen to the audio version—I'll tell you as much. ) At Unboxing our goal is to equip you for a great summer reading season. If you love planning your reading almost as much as actually reading, hate wasting your precious reading minutes on books with big marketing budgets, or simply love the idea of gathering with hundreds of fellow readers to celebrate your favorite hobby: sign up to get your Summer Reading Guide. [Preorder your Summer Reading Guide today!]( And be sure to mark your calendar for May 18th for the live Unboxing event. (Remember, your order includes Unboxing access!) It’s so much fun to join with fellow readers all excited about the season to come. [All the details are on our page.](​ Happy reading, friends! Anne P.S. I don't want to leave you hanging: my daughter finished that book in less than 48 hours. She loved it! ​ ​ ​ © Anne Bogel | 291 N Hubbards Ln Ste 172-225, Louisville, Kentucky 40207 [Unsubscribe from all MMD emails](