Wonderful list! I've read - and second your recommendations for - Fortnight in September and The Country of the Pointed Firs. (The latter has the most beautiful definition of hospitality I've ever read.)
I also just requested Apricot Sky from my library yesterday because someone else on Substack suggested it; I'm glad to have it confirmed here! I've now added The Forgotten Smile too because it sounds just like my kind of book.
Yes, the hospitality in The Country of the Pointed Firs is so beautiful. I think you're going to love The Forgotten Smile! It's like a much sunnier version of The Inn at the Edge of the World. If you can line it up to read it around Easter, that would be the perfect time for it!
Gilmore Girls, Mary Stewart, and Apricot Sky in one post; it's the best!
I will have to find the Margaret Kennedy title you recommended. I loved Never No More (truly one of my top 10), so I need to get my hands on the second one.
Loved Apricot Sky, Fortnight in September, and Moonspinners. These are all just right for the humid, languishing days of August.
I found that I enjoyed Mary Stewart as audiobooks. They are quite fun with narration, in my opinion.
Yes! I've only read two of her books--TofT and The World My Wilderness, which was similarly moving. I've heard her earlier ones are much sillier, like screwball comedies. But I love the blend of unhinged humor and profundity that she's capable of.
Hahaha I just feel like people need to know what they're getting into so they don't come back saying 'why did you recommend that book full of gibberish'! It either works for a person or it doesn't. I think you'd LOVE The Forgotten Smile, Shelby!!
I haven't read any of these, so a bunch just got added to my TBR list. I think I may have started and abandoned Country of the Pointed Firs at some point, but I'll have to give it another try.
Really appreciate your lists like this--your brief book summaries are the perfect combination of your thoughts and opinions plus a plot summary. Thanks!
Thanks so much for this comment! Country of the Pointed Firs does start slow. Once I got past that whole bit with the old sea captain who tells endless stories, I was hooked. And thanks for the feedback! I do try to always ask myself what would I want to hear about a book.
Rebecca was the summer reading for freshman year at my high school, complete with an infamous test that was just unfair and impossible. I hated every moment of reading it. My mom LOOOOVED it and I don’t get it at all!
All the other reads on your list sound way better and I am glad we are in agreement
Kindred spirits! ;) It does seem to be universally loved and I had high hopes, so my disappointment was all the more bitter for it. But from asking around it seems like I might enjoy Frenchman's Creek more.
Super list!! I have read all of these but The Horses of the Sun -- that one sounds fantastic! I second them all. I have mixed feelings about Mary Stewart too. I love the locations but the action scenes often feel too drawn out. So many people love her though! I wonder if you would like Thornyhold. That's one I want to reread. The Forgotten Smile! Totally on the unexpectedly moving. Such a lovely, interesting novel.
I'll add Thornyhold to my list! What I'm really curious about is her Merlin trilogy! I would selfishly love for you to read The Horses of the Sun so I could hear your thoughts. In some ways it reminded me of Kennedy's The Constant Nymph, but happier and less ick haha
The Merlin Trilogy is great! I actually read it several years ago but I remember being suprised at how hard it was to put down. The sense of place in those books is excellent.
Which other Mary Stewart novels have you read? I strongly recommend Nine Coaches Waiting; it's not a beach read, but with its gothic-light vibes it would be great for fall.
Yes!! More gold from Gathering Light! I read Apricot Sky last summer and loved it soooo much. Perfect summer pregnancy read. I gave it to my sister, who's also reading it as a summer pregnant read. I think I'm going to re-read Fortnight in September this September with my husband. It manages to be "feel good" without any saccharine, and I love that about it.
I have been unsuccessfully trying to get ahold of Never No More by Laverty and The Feast by Margaret Kennedy. So funny you mentioned Towers of Trebizond-- I have heard that the Dorothy/Dot character is supposed to be loosely based on Dorothy Sayers.
Thanks, as always for these lovely recommendations. I pass them along all the time!!
I read through this looking for a Mary Stewart recommendation! The Moonspinners is actually what I would recommend as a fun beach read with Stewart’s delightful prose.
Great list! I've enjoyed several of these and I'll bet I will like some of those I've yet to read (I've had The Feast on my to-read list for years). The Country of the Pointed Firs is just the most perfect, gentle summery read. And this is the second recommendation I've seen for Apricot Sky this week, so...
I don't know how much Mary Stewart you've read yet, but Madam, Will You Talk? is definitely not her best. The Moonspinners and This Rough Magic are both in my top two of hers, and both of them wonderful beach settings too (Crete and Corfu respectively!).
Wonderful list! I've read - and second your recommendations for - Fortnight in September and The Country of the Pointed Firs. (The latter has the most beautiful definition of hospitality I've ever read.)
I also just requested Apricot Sky from my library yesterday because someone else on Substack suggested it; I'm glad to have it confirmed here! I've now added The Forgotten Smile too because it sounds just like my kind of book.
Yes, the hospitality in The Country of the Pointed Firs is so beautiful. I think you're going to love The Forgotten Smile! It's like a much sunnier version of The Inn at the Edge of the World. If you can line it up to read it around Easter, that would be the perfect time for it!
Gilmore Girls, Mary Stewart, and Apricot Sky in one post; it's the best!
I will have to find the Margaret Kennedy title you recommended. I loved Never No More (truly one of my top 10), so I need to get my hands on the second one.
Loved Apricot Sky, Fortnight in September, and Moonspinners. These are all just right for the humid, languishing days of August.
I found that I enjoyed Mary Stewart as audiobooks. They are quite fun with narration, in my opinion.
Mary Stewart on audio is such a good idea! I'll have to give it a try!
Loved seeing The Towers of Trebizond on here!!! Such a unique and zany novel, but we need ones like that in the mix. :)
Yes! I've only read two of her books--TofT and The World My Wilderness, which was similarly moving. I've heard her earlier ones are much sillier, like screwball comedies. But I love the blend of unhinged humor and profundity that she's capable of.
I'm cackling at the Gilmore Girls reference 😂 & scooping up The Forgotten Smile immediately if you liked it more than The Feast!
Hahaha I just feel like people need to know what they're getting into so they don't come back saying 'why did you recommend that book full of gibberish'! It either works for a person or it doesn't. I think you'd LOVE The Forgotten Smile, Shelby!!
Saving this for when I need to add something good to my to-read list!
Would love to hear your thoughts on any of these, Shannon!
I haven't read any of these, so a bunch just got added to my TBR list. I think I may have started and abandoned Country of the Pointed Firs at some point, but I'll have to give it another try.
Really appreciate your lists like this--your brief book summaries are the perfect combination of your thoughts and opinions plus a plot summary. Thanks!
Thanks so much for this comment! Country of the Pointed Firs does start slow. Once I got past that whole bit with the old sea captain who tells endless stories, I was hooked. And thanks for the feedback! I do try to always ask myself what would I want to hear about a book.
Rebecca was the summer reading for freshman year at my high school, complete with an infamous test that was just unfair and impossible. I hated every moment of reading it. My mom LOOOOVED it and I don’t get it at all!
All the other reads on your list sound way better and I am glad we are in agreement
Kindred spirits! ;) It does seem to be universally loved and I had high hopes, so my disappointment was all the more bitter for it. But from asking around it seems like I might enjoy Frenchman's Creek more.
Super list!! I have read all of these but The Horses of the Sun -- that one sounds fantastic! I second them all. I have mixed feelings about Mary Stewart too. I love the locations but the action scenes often feel too drawn out. So many people love her though! I wonder if you would like Thornyhold. That's one I want to reread. The Forgotten Smile! Totally on the unexpectedly moving. Such a lovely, interesting novel.
I'll add Thornyhold to my list! What I'm really curious about is her Merlin trilogy! I would selfishly love for you to read The Horses of the Sun so I could hear your thoughts. In some ways it reminded me of Kennedy's The Constant Nymph, but happier and less ick haha
Oh yeah, the Merlin trilogy! I’ve checked out the first one several times. 😂 Intriguing! I want to see if I can find a copy first. 🤞🏻
The Merlin Trilogy is great! I actually read it several years ago but I remember being suprised at how hard it was to put down. The sense of place in those books is excellent.
Thank you! This makes me even more excited to pick them up!
Just in time for me to acquire before I head to the beach Wednesday! Now to decide which one!😍
Ooooh The Forgotten Smile without a doubt!!!
I was thinking the same thing!!
You'd adore Apricot Sky too! I know it haha
This looks like a great list for me, and I haven’t read any of these! Thank you!
I hope you find some winners here!
Which other Mary Stewart novels have you read? I strongly recommend Nine Coaches Waiting; it's not a beach read, but with its gothic-light vibes it would be great for fall.
Yes!! More gold from Gathering Light! I read Apricot Sky last summer and loved it soooo much. Perfect summer pregnancy read. I gave it to my sister, who's also reading it as a summer pregnant read. I think I'm going to re-read Fortnight in September this September with my husband. It manages to be "feel good" without any saccharine, and I love that about it.
I have been unsuccessfully trying to get ahold of Never No More by Laverty and The Feast by Margaret Kennedy. So funny you mentioned Towers of Trebizond-- I have heard that the Dorothy/Dot character is supposed to be loosely based on Dorothy Sayers.
Thanks, as always for these lovely recommendations. I pass them along all the time!!
I read through this looking for a Mary Stewart recommendation! The Moonspinners is actually what I would recommend as a fun beach read with Stewart’s delightful prose.
Great list! I've enjoyed several of these and I'll bet I will like some of those I've yet to read (I've had The Feast on my to-read list for years). The Country of the Pointed Firs is just the most perfect, gentle summery read. And this is the second recommendation I've seen for Apricot Sky this week, so...
I don't know how much Mary Stewart you've read yet, but Madam, Will You Talk? is definitely not her best. The Moonspinners and This Rough Magic are both in my top two of hers, and both of them wonderful beach settings too (Crete and Corfu respectively!).